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I’ve made myself a target, says Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza said winning the French Open had turned her into a target after the Spanish world number two crashed out of Wimbledon.
The second seed lost 6-3, 6-2 to Slovak qualifier Jana Cepelova, the world number 124, in Thursday’s second round and admitted that lower-ranked players would now raise their game to claim her scalp.
 “It’s part of being at the top level. I would not change that. Every time I step on the court, well, they want to beat me so much. They’re all loose because they don’t have anything to lose,” the 22-year-old said.
 “There are more expectations from other people. But I just had a very clear feeling it was going to be a rough tournament for me after winning a Grand Slam and coming here. Everybody is looking at me.
 “But I like that. It puts me in a good situation. Hopefully I can keep it like this.”
 Muguruza was bidding to become only the eighth woman to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back.
 The new Roland Garros champion said she would have to rethink her preparations -- and hammering herself into the ground practicing might not be the wisest option.
 “It is very difficult. I’m just experiencing a lot of things so fast,” last year’s Wimbledon runner-up said.
 “It’s my first time after doing a great result, coming to another Grand Slam. So I’m trying to discover how I’m going to feel, how do I have to go on court, how do I have to rest more.
 “I’m just dealing with it. I think it’s hard. I’m doing my way, trying to prepare every match, trying to be focused every practice.
 “One day it’s going to go my way, another day no. Hopefully my consistency will improve and I’ll be able to be deep in all the tournaments.”
 The Caracas-born right-hander admitted that it had been a learning experience since claiming the French Open crown, and the process was ongoing.
 Muguruza said she felt drained on court and even felt sick as she sank to Cepelova.
 “I’m going to learn that you really need to concentrate on how to recover, and don’t reach a moment where your energy is too low, especially to play a Grand Slam, and to face opponents that, hey, they’re good, they’re here, they want to beat you so much,” she said.

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