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The US Open is going on in the world of tennis right now, and I wanted to take a minute to highlight one of the most successful Basque athletes of our time: tennis pro Garbiñe Muguruza.
She formerly ranked #1 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association, but Muguruza was unfortunately just knocked out of the competition last week by Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova.
Despite this setback, Muguruza is still a Basque athlete to root for, with six singles titles and five doubles titles earned in her relatively short career. The 24-year-old has only been playing professionally since 2012.
Two of Muguruza’s titles were at Grand Slam tournaments, with her winning the 2016 French Open and Wimbledon in 2017. In recognition of her accomplishments, the International Tennis Federation named Muguruza World Champion last year.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela to a Venezuelan mother and Basque father, Muguruza has been playing tennis since the age of 3. When she was 6 years old, the family moved to Barcelona so that she could train at the Bruguera Tennis Academy with her older brothers, Asier and Igor.
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Photo: Rolex
Muguruza is known for her aggressive style of play and prowess on clay courts. Her powerful serve can reach up to 113 mph (182km/h).
Fellow tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska describes Muguruza’s playing style as being “very explosive, especially from every shot. So forehand, backhand, serve, return, everything is coming to you so fast.”
This year alone, Muguruza has made $1,639,114 in prize money. Her current rank for 52 week singles is #12. Over the course of her career, she has won over $17 million in prize money, which is impressive considering the relatively short span of her career. To put things in perspective, Serena Williams has amassed over $86 million in prize money over her 23 year career.
Since 2017, Muguruza has been an Ambassador for the NGO Room to Read, which promotes literacy and gender equality in education around the world. She is also ambassador to several brands.
Muguruza is definitely an athlete to watch not only for her skill but for her positive spirit as well. Her advice to her fans:
“Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with positive people, people that will help you be the best version of your self. You are stronger than you think. There is always a little more you can do, for you and for others. No doubt.”
What other Basque athletes do you support? Let us know in the comments.
Continue Reading:
- Basques Are Unique: It’s In Our Blood
- How the Basques Defeated Europe’s Greatest Army and How History Erased Them
- 9 Movies Filmed in the Basque Country
Featured Photo: WTA
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