The grass is greener for Garbine Muguruza as Spaniard seeks to win Wimbledon

25 June 2016 05:53

French Open champion Garbine Muguruza stunned Serena Williams in Paris and plans to swipe the American's Wimbledon title - but she used to hate grass.

Three weeks on from landing her maiden grand slam at Roland Garros, Spaniard Muguruza starts her campaign in London as the second seed and by most estimations the likeliest challenger to Williams.

In the 12 months since her run to the Wimbledon final, where Williams mowed her down in straight sets, big-hitting Muguruza has not had everything her own way.

But triumphing in Paris means her confidence is soaring ahead of her fourth Wimbledon appearance.

Venezuela-born, Muguruza did most of her growing up in Spain, playing largely on clay and hard courts.

Grass did not enter the equation, so it was as surprising to Muguruza as anyone that she reached her first grand slam final on the cropped Wimbledon lawns.

"I think I like it," she said. "I had a love and hate (relationship) with Wimbledon because at the beginning it was hard for me. With time, I've got more used to grass. Before it was hard. But now I'm completely changed.

"When I was younger, a lot of people were saying, 'I think you will play good on grass'.

"I'm like, 'There's no way, I hate grass. I'm horrible'.

"Now I agree. I think my style of game helps. But I don't feel yet it is my comfort zone.

"I think sometimes it's hard to run on grass. It's like sometimes I'm too tall, I don't know, (I) feel weird sometimes."

Muguruza starts her title bid against Camila Giorgi on Monday.

With Maria Sharapova suspended after her failed drugs test, and Victoria Azarenka injured, the women's draw is short of star names.

It hardly lacks a narrative though. While sister Venus can never be discounted, it is Serena Williams who has led the way for the great American tennis family at the All England Club in recent years, taking four of the last seven Wimbledon titles.

Her triumph in 2015 saw Williams complete a 'Serena Slam', as she held all four majors at the same time.

She was one behind Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 slam titles, and it appeared a given that Williams would soon match, and then pass, the German's record.

The world is still waiting, amid talk of a Serena slump.

The 34-year-old has not played on tour since losing to Muguruza in the Paris final, but suggestions of decline must be treated carefully.

Williams has played five tournaments in 2016 and reached four finals, albeit only winning one trophy.

She remains the world number one, with second-ranked Muguruza just ahead of Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber.

It was German left-hander Kerber who surprised Serena in the Australian Open final at the start of the year, causing one of the biggest upsets of recent years.

At Wimbledon, Kerber will be tackling a former junior champion in Great Britain's Laura Robson, to whom she lost in the first round five years ago.

A repeat result on Monday appears unlikely, with Robson still working her way back to form after long-term wrist problems.

"It's tough to play, of course, against a Great Britain girl," Kerber said. "But I'm looking forward to it. I played against her a long time ago.

"She's a lefty, so this is always tricky, on grass especially, like me."

Source: PA