Muguruza gearing up for Wimbledon defence

Spanish Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza says she can defend her crown as she prepares to open her grass-court season at the Birmingham Classic.

Garbine Muguruza.

Garbine Muguruza bowed out in the French Open semis but is eyeing another deep run at Wimbledon. (AAP)

Two-time grand slam winner Garbine Muguruza isn't lacking confidence as she starts the build-up to defending her Wimbledon title.

"I believe I can win the trophy again," said the 24-year-old Spaniard, despite playing on grass - a surface she hasn't always liked.

"The tricky part (of grass) is adapting the body and movement. Other surfaces are more comfortable for the body. You have to run in a certain way. The ball bounces less, the balls are heavier, the court is faster ... But I think my movement and physical capacity and strength, all have improved a lot."

Muguruza faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in their opener at the grass-court Birmingham Classic, which starts on Monday two weeks before Wimbledon.

The 2016 French Open winner "get as many matches as possible" in Birmingham as preparation for Wimbledon.

"It meant such a lot to win Wimbledon, because I had lost in the final before (in 2015) and I didn't know if I could do it ... it's special to go back as defending champion," Muguruza said. "But I am not thinking about it too much, and I am taking it just naturally. Nothing really matters, whatever happens to me."

Muguruza lost to Simona Halep in the semi-finals earlier this month at Roland Garros. She won the Wimbledon title last year with a 7-5 6-0 win over Venus Williams and said she will take Wimbledon one match at a time.

"There are seven matches and two weeks," Muguruza said. "You come and think about your first match, your first training, your first practice. And little by little you move forward".


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Source: AAP



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