Two-time Grand Slam Champion Garbine Muguruza was stunned by unseeded tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova at US Open 2020. She made her comeback to professional tennis after three long years and the Bulgarian ace had also become a mother during her time away from professional tennis.

After losing 7-5, 6-3 to Pironkova, Muguruza was asked about the defending champion on the men’s circuit and her compatriot Rafael Nadal.

She was asked did Rafa make a wise move by not opting to come to New York or he should have tried defending his title at US Open 2020. The Spaniard stated, for the moment Rafa is prioritizing the French Open defense title over US Open.

He is vying to perform well on the clay courts rather than earning match wins at the American Slam. And she mentioned Rafa’s edge over clay-court events is completely ‘understandable’.

Garbine Muguruza on Rafael Nadal missing US Open 2020

“I think it’s complicated to make the right schedule. I mean, is true that some people like to prioritize some surfaces. It’s totally understandable. It’s true that having two Grand Slams in a row, two very different surfaces, it’s tricky,” she said.

“I can only speak about myself. Yes, it was a little bit of a rush decision. I wanted to know also where I am in terms of competition. It was just a kind of the first test.”

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This year at Roland Garros Nadal will be playing for 13th title on Parisian terre-battue. By participating in the fast courts on US Open, he would have tired out himself before making the transition onto the clay surface.

Also, in the pandemic year, the time of transition from hard to clay is close to negligible.

At present, World No. 2 is swinging his tennis racquets on the clay courts of his hometown of Mallorca, Spain. Before flying to the French Open in Paris, Nadal is expected to play at Rome Masters in Italy.

In the year 2016 Muguruza won the Roland Garros title, but unfortunately, she couldn’t lift the elite crown alongside her ace compatriot and the eventual ‘King of Clay’ as he had withdrawn from the Major due to his injuries.