Muguruza feeling ‘normal’ ahead of French defence

French Open holder Garbine Muguruza has found herself surprised that a return to Roland Garros a year after winning the title has not sent any chills down her spine.

“Honestly I was expecting a little bit more of, I don’t know, like emotional feeling, coming here, but I’m actually normal,” Muguruza told a news conference on Saturday.

“I consider myself as another player in the draw. I’m starting fresh,” said the WTA No.6 whose run-up to the Sunday start of the French Open has been modest at best.

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“This is a new perspective. Last year was last year. I have the trophy already. So I won’t obviously feel that again. But that’s it. I’m not really thinking about it a lot.

Muguruza will open her campaign with a match against Italy’s former champion Francesca Schiavone

“It’s very strange to find two past champions in the first round,” Muguruza added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqBAR58XcZk

“She’s playing good, she played Bogota and another tournament (Luxembourg) where she reached the final. She’s playing good on clay. It’s a good match to start.

“It’s going to be interesting tournament for me to see how I can play, how my feelings are. And that’s it. But I look forward for it.”

Muguruza is recovering from a neck injury which forced her to retire in Rome. “I did a bad movement playing with somebody, and I still feel it,” she said. “It takes a little bit actually to go away. I feel much better than Rome.”

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For the Spaniard, the women’s field – missing the pregnant Serena Williams and with the addition of recovering Petra Kvitova – is wide open.

“There are 10, 15 girls who can win the trophy. That’s not normal, before it was not like that; there’s always a few favourites. It’s kind of weird to have a lot more. But this year is very open. I feel like a lot of people can win.”