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SPORTS Monday 18 June 2018

Muguruza gets ready to

defend her Wimbledon title

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) lost in the final before (in I first came)," Muguruza
— Two-time Grand Slam 2015) and I didn't know if said. "It's very different. Romania's Simona Halep, left, is congratulated by Spain's
winner Garbine Muguruza I could do it ... it's special There are no grass courts in Garbine Muguruza after winning her semifinal match of the
isn't lacking confidence as to go back as defending Spain. It took two or three French Open tennis tournament in two sets, 6-1, 6-4, at the
she starts the buildup to champion. But I am not years to be more positive. Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, June 7, 2018.
defending her Wimbledon thinking about it too much, Now I enjoy it."q Associated Press
title. and I am taking it just natu-
"I believe I can win the rally. Nothing really matters,
trophy again," said the whatever happens to me."
24-year-old Spaniard, de- Muguruza won the 2016
spite playing on grass — a French Open but lost to
surface she hasn't always Simona Halep in the semi-
liked. finals earlier this month at
"The tricky part (of grass) Roland Garros. She won
is adapting the body and the Wimbledon title last
movement. Other surfaces year with a 7-5, 6-0 win over
are more comfortable for Venus Williams.
the body," Muguruza said. Muguruza said she will take
"You have to run in a cer- Wimbledon one match at
tain way. The ball bounces a time.
less, the balls are heavier, "There are seven matches
the court is faster ... But I and two weeks," Muguruza
think my movement and said. "You come and think
physical capacity and about your first match, your
strength, all have improved first training, your first prac-
a lot." tice. And little by little you
Muguruza faces Anastasia move forward".
Pavlyuchenkova of Russia But that approach still re-
in their opener at the grass- quires overcoming any in-
court Nature Valley Classic, hibitions about grass.
which starts Monday in Bir- Muguruza said she feels like
mingham, two weeks be- Rafael Nadal and, further
fore Wimbledon. back, Chris Evert, whose
Muguruza said "hopefully tennis upbringing was on
I'll get as many matches very different surfaces from
as possible" in Birmingham grass but who successfully
as preparation for Wimble- adapted to win Wimble-
don. don singles titles — Nadal
"It meant such a lot to win (2) and Evert (3).
Wimbledon, because I had "I didn't like it for sure (when