Garbine Muguruza says having Conchita Martinez in her corner can help her win Saturday's Wimbledon final.
With regular coach Sam Sumyk absent with his wife about to give birth, Muguruza has turned to the 1994 champion, who is Spain’s Fed Cup captain.
The 23-year-old said: “Conchita knows how to win here on Centre Court and that’s a big thing. And I think a lot of things are clicking with her and the team this week.”
Muguruza has Wimbledon final experience having reached the same stage in 2015, only to lose 6-4, 6-4 to Serena Williams. This time she has sister Venus lying between her and a second Grand Slam title — she won the French Open last year — but says she is far better equipped with Martinez at her side. “She’s helping me to deal with the stress of the tournament because it’s a long tournament,” said Muguruza.
“She knows how to prepare and what to do. I’m not really doing anything different but to have her by my side gives me this little confidence of having someone that has won before.”
Two years ago, Muguruza was a surprise finalist having previously won just one match at Wimbledon and has once more excelled at the tournament, her 6-1, 6-1 semi-final thrashing of Magdalena Rybarikova arguably her most polished performance to date.
And she has pledged to put up an even bigger fight to the older Williams sister this time.
“It’s very different,” she added. “You know what you are going to feel and have to deal with.
Wimbledon 2017 - In pictures
“I’m much more calm than the last time. So it’s incredible for me to be here in another final because it means a lot. It’s a Grand Slam.
“I lost two years ago, so I look forward to this one and to try to change that.”
