Garbiñe Muguruza: I try to get better in every new season

As a true tennis champion, Garbiñe hits her targets like no other. Ahead of the launch of the new adidas capsule collection, world-renowned top model Karlie Kloss caught up with Garbiñe to talk about how sport influences her life on and off the court and how she’s helping a new generation of creative women build themselves mentally and physically.

– After so many successful years on the court, how do you set new goals for yourself at the beginning of the season?

– I try to get better each new season. The goal is always the same – to be ahead. I say that because if you don’t work on yourself, you can get stuck in one place, so I focus on working on the parts that I’m still behind in.

– How do you prepare for a big match physically and mentally?

– I try to visualize the game and situations that might happen during the match. I try not to lose concentration. I study what I need to do, especially tactics. I need to analyze each of my opponents and be as relaxed as possible before the match.

– In your career, training is part of how you make a living. How do you find ways to make training enjoyable so it doesn’t feel like part of the job?

– It’s a hard thing to do. Sometimes it’s even really hard. There are days when I feel like I’m not ready to put out a hundred percent and work hard. In those cases I try to find something to cheer me up, I think about how lucky I am to be doing what I love while many don’t have that opportunity. There are days when I see the situation in a different light and I need to work on my attitude.

I also try not to torture myself or try to achieve something impossible every day. On the contrary, I try to be humble and realize that there are good days and there are not so good days. The latter are especially important because in such moments you have to find a way to cope with the difficulties at the end of the day and still feel that you have enjoyed it.

– What are your training sessions in the off-season?

– I’m an active person, I always try to be on the move. If I’m not playing tennis, I play other sports or go for walks and dances… I do anything to stay off the couch.

– What is your favorite type of workout outside of tennis?

– I love working out at the gym. I also really enjoy dancing, it helps me to be energetic and stay fit.

– Besides tennis, you are interested in fashion and design. What sparked this interest in you?

– I love fashion and have already started working on my own ideas in this direction. My mom dreamed of being a designer, so obviously I inherited this interest from her. We always talk about fashion, what we see in magazines and what others are wearing. I also really like to look chic. All of this has awakened in me an interest in the fashion world and a desire to learn, know and work on my own ideas.

– Working with adidas, I think a lot about the intersection of such different worlds – sport and fashion. What do you think about that?

– It’s an interesting combination, because you can train or take part in serious competitions and still feel comfortable and look amazing at the same time. My new adidas capsule collection makes you feel like you can be fashionable and successful at the same time.

– You and I have a lot in common – we both develop initiatives that help girls get an education. Why is it so important to deal with women’s rights and opportunities, and do you think sport and creativity can help with that?

– I try to use the media attention to help young girls who don’t have the opportunities I had. I work with Rooms To Read (*American non-profit organization dedicated to literacy and gender equality in the education system of developing countries). Just recently, we were able to raise enough funds to build my first school library in a small village in Cambodia. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I will be able to travel there and visit the children. I am convinced that each of us can help those in need.

– Why is it important for you to do something else besides tennis?

– I think it is very important not to focus solely on tennis. Athletes’ careers are short and I would like to do something new in the future: that’s why I’m interested in other fields and expanding my social circle. I have opportunities that most of my peers don’t have and I’m trying to take advantage of them to gain knowledge that will help me start a new chapter after leaving big sport.

Blitz poll

• You can’t imagine working out without:music
• Favorite article from your collection: the Believe This leggings – I love the color, it goes with all my tops!
• Favorite pre- or post-workout snack: croissant;
• Life motto: We only live once.
• Style icon: Carolina Herrera;
• Working out with a partner or alone? Depends on your mood.
• Stretching or pumping? Pumping;
• Workout with or without makeup? No makeup;
• Workout in the morning or at night? Morning;
• City or nature? Nature;
• After a workout, you feel .. . I feel proud of myself.
• Self-expression means… sharing a piece of myself.
• I use creativity to… unload my head.