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Cape Town - Spanish star Garbine Muguruza has admitted winning the French Open in 2016 was both the best and worst thing that happened to her.
While claiming a maiden Grand Slam title is obviously a huge achievement in any tennis player's career, but for some it can also be a double-edged sword.
That was certainly true for Muguruza, who was ranked as high as second in the world midway through the year but not finds herself down in seventh.
Following her victory at the French Open, she made only one further tour semi-final for the remainder of the season.
“Winning Roland Garros has been the best and worst part of the year,” Muguruza told Spain’s Marca newspaper.
“At other tournaments it was hard for me to play at the same level. I felt more responsibility, more pressure, more eyes on me, more of a feeling that you have to win because it’s what is expected of you."
Muguruza will play in next week's Brisbane International, and will be eager to start afresh in the new year to try and regain some of her lost ground.
She will be seeded fourth for the tournament, which yesterday lost its 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
