KNOW GARBINE
Five facts on Garbine Muguruza who defeated Venus Williams on Saturday
HEY VENEZUELA
Muguruza was born in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in October, 1993. Her mother Scarlet Blanco is from the South American country and Muguruza holds dual SpanishVenezuelan nationality. Father Jose is a Spanish-Basque.
PARIS MON AMOUR ET BETE NOIRE
Muguruza won the French Open title in 2016 but her defence ended in tears and controversy this year after she accused the Roland Garros crowd as being “disrespectful” for their behaviour towards her as she lost to home star Kiki Mladenovic.
COACHING ROW
Muguruza was accused of being illegally ‘coached’ from her player’s box by quarter-final opponent Svetlana Kuznetsova. “It was pretty clear because we all speak Spanish here. She was talking to her all the time. It’s her physio. I don’t think it’s appropriate,” said the Russian.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Muguruza enlisted the help of 1994 Wimbledon champion and fellow Spaniard Conchita Martinez for her All England Club campaign. “I think she’s helping me to deal with the stress of the tournament, because it’s a long tournament,” Muguruza said of her 45-year-old compatriot.
MASTER CHEF
After winning the 2016 French Open, Muguruza admitted she relaxes by cooking, mostly desserts. “Anything with sugar, not with salt. Cakes and cookies. Oreo brownie is the best one,” she said.