Garbiñe Muguruza cites family ties and iconic rivals as inspiring her to become a tennis player.

The two-time Grand Slam champion shared her tennis inspirations in The Huddle, a video chat she did with five-time Olympic gold-medal champion swimmer Katie Ledecky for shared sponsor adidas.

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Muguruza said she picked up a racquet because her older brothers were players and became hooked watching the Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras rivalry as well as Martina Hingis' famed battles against both Serena Williams and Venus Williams. 

“I started playing tennis because I have two older brothers and when I was born they were already playing tennis,” Muguruza says at about 8:25 of the video below. “I’m like copying, you know? I’m gonna play tennis too.

“So I would say I watch a lot of men’s tennis [growing up] because of them. My brothers were watching Agassi and Sampras play. Yeah of course I admire the Williams sisters, Martina Hingis and incredible players."

Hingis has called Serena Williams her toughest opponent and Venus Williams one of favorite rivals to face.



“But I remember just seeming to be these huge courts with a lot of people and I always wanted to be like I wanted to be there," Muguruza recalls. "You know, I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of that.

"And that was always my goal. One day I want to see myself playing the final of a Grand Slam and that was my dream.”

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve