My Roland-Garros: Garbine Muguruza

 - Dan Imhoff

Garbine Muguruza's love affair with Roland-Garros began long before her title run in 2016.

Garbine Muguruza Roland Garros 2019©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

Spain's Garbine Muguruza first announced herself with a stunning upset of Serena Williams in the second round of Roland-Garros 2014 before winning her maiden grand slam title on Court Philippe-Chatrier two years later.

With an impressive win-loss ratio of 83 per cent, it stands as her most successful major.

As a former champion and after that early breakthrough win over Serena Williams, do you still get that special feeling when you come to Roland-Garros?

Yeah I have incredible memories here. This is a special tournament growing up always, dreaming about winning here, especially growing up in Spain, this is such a main objective.

So I'm very excited to always be back here. I get this special feeling. I had a chance today to play on centre court [Court Philippe-Chatrier] and you know, it brings a lot of memories.

Do you still feel like you can actually win Roland-Garros in 2019 in light of recent form and health concerns?

I still believe it doesn’t matter what tournament I play, if it’s another Grand Slam, I still see myself as a possible champion, carrying the trophy. One thing is to see yourself, but it takes a lot of matches, a lot of good results, but yeah, I believe.

What is your earliest memory of Roland-Garros or Paris?

My first memory was I trained for a lot of years in the Sergi Bruguera Academy [in Barcelona]. He was twice a champion here so I remember in the academy he had some posters of himself on the Roland-Garros centre court [Court Philippe-Chatrier] and stuff with the trophy so that's my earliest memory. 

Given your record here - you’ve reached the second week in each the past five years, including winning the title in 2016 - what is it about Roland-Garros that continually brings out the best in your tennis?

That’s a good question. I think I just love to play here, I think that’s important. I have a good feeling, a good energy, I think clay courts suit my game. It’s one of my favourite surfaces, I would say probably my favourite. I think it’s a combination of that that makes me play well.