Muguruza slips again in Madrid

The scene is repeated, like that of Bill Murray and the alarm clock in

, on Groundhog Day: Garbiñe Muguruza heads down the locker room of the Caja Mágica headquarters, covering her face and shaking her head.

She has just conceded a loveless set and lost to the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina (6-3 and 6-0, in 1h 21m), thus prolonging the theory that, for whatever reason, she and Madrid are something like water and oil, or one of those love stories in which the couple loves each other, but for whatever reason it doesn't work out and one and the other decide to go their separate ways.

"People expect a lot from me in this tournament, but this tournament is really hard for me," says the world nine, still trying to process what has happened and why he can't take off in the Spanish capital, where his top is the eighth he reached in 2018 and where he has signed only six victories in eight participations.

"It's a mix," describes the tennis player, who will turn 29 on October 8;

“Perhaps it is due to the fact that there are so many expectations and not wanting to disappoint the public and all the people who are here.

That gives me a bad past year after year.

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So far, Kalinina (25 years old, 37th in the WTA) has played 45 matches on the professional circuit, compared to 464 for Muguruza.

However, as the six

options of the woman from Caracas fade away and her rival hits the only one she has in the first set, the match breaks down and takes on a bad color.

Absent for a month and a half due to an ailment in her left shoulder –and because at the same time, she needed to “recharge her batteries”, she said–, Muguruza begins to notice the lack of rhythm and her right twin begins to seize up.

She contracts at the same rate as her game, and there is no solution.

"It was a strange game, she surprised me," he says.

“Although I have been able to rest [in recent dates], I have felt a bit diminished by the games and training sessions, and above all by the tension.

At times I have lacked spark”, the former number one continues, arguing that last year she completed her “best season” and in this one she has not yet achieved notable records;

a year this 2022 to the setback, which began with an episode of covid in the team in Australia and then continued with the break.

Sorribes dispatches to Osaka

“Results come and go.

I have started this year a bit rushed, but you know how it is, each season [six wins and as many losses] is something new”, he continues before leaving the Caja Mágica, a territory that he has not quite taken the measure of, and to examine the calf before traveling to the Foro Italico in Rome, where he will soon compete in the prelude to Roland Garros (from May 22 to June 5).

In the opposite direction, Sara Sorribes achieved a meritorious victory against Naomi Osaka (6-3 and 6-1, in 1h 28m) and progressed for the first time in her career to the round of 16 of the Madrid tournament.

In this way, the Valencian remains as the only Spanish representative in the women's draw.

Without Muguruza, Paula Badosa and Nuria Párrizas – the last two alighted on Saturday – Sorribes is the hope.

She beat the Japanese for the second time on clay – she had previously achieved it in a crossover of the old Federation Cup, in 2020 – and on Tuesday she will face the Russian Daria Kasatkina, superior yesterday to the Greek Maria Sakkari, the fourth favorite ( 3-6, 6-3 and 6-5).

Tutored by Silvia Soler and Paco Fogués, the 25-year-old from Castellón will return next week to the

of the circuit and once again demonstrated against the Japanese – four greats, former number one – that she is a very hard nut to crack: “I have many years coming here.

I have always thought that Madrid was a place where I could play very well.

I think I have played very good games, but these two have been the ones in which I have felt the best”, expressed the winner.

Osaka, who was treated for her left calf, left empty again.

Upon her arrival, she announced that she had been inspired by a trick by Rafael Nadal –the rest invested in the lead serve–, but her allergy to clay continues.

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