WTA FINALS

October 31, 2025

Garbine Muguruza

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have our tournament director, Garbine Muguruza.

Garbine, welcome back in your second year in your official role as tournament director. Touch on what we're looking forward to in this year's Final and some of the changes and improvements made upon last year.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, very looking forward. So far has been great. Last year's players' feedback was great. We're building more off that.

We've made some improvements. Center court is slightly bigger. Practice courts seem to be better lighting. Better gym, better players lounge.

We are streaming now practices starting today, so that's cool for fans. They can watch their favorite players practice.

Yeah, little bit of everything. So very excited.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. You won the tournament in Guadalajara. What have you learned in the last years going from playing to organizing the tournament?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: A lot. A lot. Because when you're a player, you really don't think much besides competing, playing, practicing. It's an individual sport, so you're in your own thoughts.

But just learning first teamwork, a lot of teamwork because it takes an Army to really put this event together. Just learning also the business side of it, how long things takes to be done, what are the requirements, all these things that as a player you just arrive and you see everything done and ready. There is a long process that takes months and months.

Q. How does winning the tournament as a singles player, you beat Anett Kontaveit in the final, looking back, what does it take to win this tournament at the end when everyone is tired?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yes, it's a very tough tournament. As you said, we're all tired because it's the last push of the year. Everyone is on holidays after.

Already on qualifying I remember every year it was a heart attack because you're playing for the Masters, you want to be in those eight best players.

But I have amazing memories. Winning Mexico for me was huge, huge, huge. The crowd support, just the fact that I was in Latin America.

But it was one of my biggest achievements because it meant that I was able to play for one week or eight days against the best players. Every day could be a Grand Slam final.

We're going to witness the top eight against each other every day. The fact that I won the tournament proved that I was at the top of the world that year.

It was incredible matches and performances.

Q. You mentioned the uniqueness of this tournament, the top eight players in the world. How do you manage that mentally where your reward for playing one of the best players in the world is to come back in the next day or two and then play another best in the world, potentially have to do that again?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, it's mentally very tough because you know there is not one day that you can even relax a little bit. If it's not the day of the match, the day in between you already need to prepare and know that now I'm playing against this other player, all the achievements they've done. It's really mentally tough knowing that every single match you have to be on your 100% or at least 80%.

Also the round-robin format. This is something so interesting. Sometimes difficult to understand. It gives you that opportunity to still win even if you lose the match. It happened to me. When I won Guadalajara, I lost a match. I was like, Oh, man, am I still going to make it? I did because of the points, the math that you have to do.

It is really interesting format, so you don't lose hope basically.

Q. Obviously the entire field had amazing years. That's why they're here. For you personally, what story stood out to you the most from these eight finalists?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Obviously our debutante, Amanda Anisimova, had an amazing year with all she went through, her story of taking a little break and coming back stronger than ever, playing two Grand Slam finals. That's tough also. But I think it also made her stronger to finish the year winning that title in Asia.

I'm happy she's here. She looks content, with a great team, great form. I've been watching all her practices. I really like her story.

Like you said, all of them have an amazing journey to be able to make it here. Yeah, I'd say Amanda.

Q. You mentioned the stadium is bigger, which I guess is a good sign because it means that you're confident that more people could come. What are some of the takeaways from the fan attendance last year and what has been done differently this year to make sure more people are aware of this tournament?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Already having a second year, it helps. The first year it's a new event, we're still getting fans connected to the players. We had successful year, especially the opening days and towards the final. There's always those challenging days during the week.

I think that this year people are aware more of this tournament, and tennis in general, in the Kingdom. We're expecting more people. I think it's going to be great.

Fan Zone is going to be also better than last year so the kids can come and have fun. So let's see.

Q. Obviously you've been a player, you know how tricky scheduling can be. We hear a lot of the players complaining about the schedule. For you, now that you have retired, can see this from the outside, what is the best way to manage the schedule and this feeling that the players are forced to play, when in reality they can choose to play? Where does this pressure come from about feeling they have to play?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, that's a tricky question because I feel for both, now looking from the outside.

But as a player, I think chatting to all the players here, I understand that it is a little long, the season. Also as a player I felt it.

Like you say, there is no obligation. You can also choose your own calendar. You can skip one or two events if you're tired. There's no, like, punishment in that way.

It's also who is the toughest. So I feel as a player, you want to be line, No, I need to play, keep winning, I'm strong. It's a thing of being the best player in the world.

Like you say, it's a tough conversation. It's ongoing all the time, still figuring out what is the best way. I love having opportunities to play, also for the not top players. But I also understand that it's a lot of tournaments. I'm, like, I don't know what to say sometimes.

Yes, it's not mandatory. Ultimately you can make your own calendar, yeah.

Q. This year there was four players winning the four Grand Slams. Do you think that was because the competitive spirit is more there in women's tennis than the men's tennis? How do you think the competition will be this year?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Hmmm... I forgot to mention Keys' story. After nine years, she's back.

I feel it's very competitive. We had four different Grand Slam champions, like you say. That tells you that it's very, very - how do I say - tough out there. There's a lot of players with a very intense level, high level, consistent.

Again, we can expect the best players in the world, toughest matches, best quality. Hopefully a great final. Last year was an amazing ending of the tournament. Hopefully this year we have something similar.

Keys and Amanda, I feel like those two, yeah.

Q. We obviously know that tennis is growing a lot in this country, big tournaments like WTA Finals, big stars coming to the Kingdom. Can you explain a bit more as tournament director some of the other programs that are introducing tennis to kids, people that haven't experienced the sport before. I assume you're involved in some of that stuff, as well.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, we are here this week. But we come many times during the year, just to clarify that. It's very important. We don't just show up here, make the tournament and leave. We want to leave a mark. We want to build in the community.

So yeah, we come, we do a lot of clinics, talk to parents, teachers. We want to create a foundation and leave a mark once we keep moving into other tournaments.

But I have noticed already in two years much more interest with the kids. Especially parents. Moms have come to ask me much more than the first trips, at the beginning. I feel like now we kind of broke the ice. They're less shy to ask, Okay, what my daughter should do, how do you train, all these little questions. I felt much more interest.

We do a lot of community programs with Judy, with Vania, with Ann also. We come along the year. I feel it's really making a difference, yeah.

Q. I want to ask you about the young Saudi player, Sama Bakr, that practiced with Sabalenka. How do you know this girl, the potential you see in her?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, I've watched her in several clinics. She was very lucky to play with Aryna. She really impressed us all. Jasmine was so impressed by her. Aryna as well.

She showed not being too shy because she could panic a little bit. She had a flawless technique. The fact that she could have this moment... When I was younger, I never thought I could have a No. 1 that close.

So that impact, not only on her, but all the girls that we're watching, I feel could be a big motivation for her to one day dream to be Aryna or meet any of the players that we have here. It's important to have these little moments.

Q. Only three women have repeated as singles champions at the WTA Finals this century. Why is it so hard to repeat in this tournament?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, well, you first need to already qualify, then survive. Like we mentioned before, you have to survive the tough matches, the round-robin format, not getting injured as these intense matches. It just explains how tough it is.

Only three players? That's a really low number. It's really a tough competition. Yeah, that's why probably.

Q. Do you think that tactics is more important than technique or vice versa?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Tactic or technique? What is more important? I mean, if I have to answer really quick, I would say tactic because you can have less perfect technique but still win with a genius tactic. I feel like being smart and being competitive...

Tactics is how much competitive you want to be, how much you want to bother your opponent and be smart and find the weaknesses. I think that's very important. I would say tactic.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: That was the first one. Now all the players are coming (smiling).