Struggling former world No 1 Garbine Muguruza admits it is “time to be humble” as she has indicated that she plans to play in the lower-level tournaments. Muguruza, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is 0-3 at the start of the 2023 season.
Last year, Muguruza had a very disappointing season as she went just 12-17. Muguruza, now ranked at No 73 in the world, suffered an Australian Open first-round loss on Tuesday as Elise Mertens beat the Spaniard 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-1 “I will have to make a proper calendar with my ranking.
I’ll try to play in the best tournaments too but when I can’t I’ll look at the other lower-level tournaments. I will value the lower-level tournaments, it’s time to be humble,” Muguruza told Eurosport.
Muguruza failed to serve out for the match against Mertens
Muguruza earned the first break of the match in the second game, but got broken back by Mertens immediately in the third game.
After blowing an early first-set break, Muguruza broke Mertens again in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead before serving out for the opener in the following game. Up by a set, Muguruza broke Mertens in the very first game of the second set to go up by a set and a break.
However, Mertens refused to quit, breaking Muguruza in the second and sixth games to open a 4-2 lead. After suffering back-to-back breaks, Muguruza responded with back-to-back breaks on her own in the seventh and 11th games for a 6-5 lead.
But in the 12th game – when Muguruza was serving for the match – she got broken back as Mertens managed to force a tie-break. In the tie-break, Mertens opened an early 4-1 lead before realizing her first set point to send the match into a third set.
After failing to serve out for the match in the second set, Muguruza suffered three breaks in the third set as Mertens completed a big comeback win. Previously, Muguruza picked up first-round losses in Adelaide 1 and Adelaide 2.
