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Q. Did you expect such a tough battle today?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I expect it. I know Caroline is a great player and great fighter. I was really prepared for big fight like today.



Q. What was the key to having success today?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: The key was more to be strong mentally, especially in the third set, because we both were playing so good. To be strong, like to keep fighting was the difference.



Q. Was that your first time on Rod Laver Arena? Did it feel different at all?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: It's not the first time. Last year I played also.

But it's difficult in the beginning because it's a very big court and you have to be like concentrated, because it's like really big on the sides and there's a lot of people.

So in the beginning it's hard, but then you don't realize you're playing the center court. You just keep on playing the match.



Q. Have you played Radwanska before?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, I played her like two years ago and I lost, so it's a difficult match.



Q. You've only played her once?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, only once.



Q. How do you prepare for a match like that?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, well, today I don't want to think about Radwanska. But, yeah, tomorrow we will start to prepare the match, to focus on the tactic, and to see what's the key to win.



Q. How is the win today given the occasion, how does it rank?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: It's a great win. It's a great win. I think is the first time no, not the first time I win a top 10 player. But is amazing to win center court a top 10 player like Caro.

So I'm really happy.



Q. Is it a big relief that today we have 20 degrees, not 40?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, today was much better. The difference is important 'cause before was so hot. Now was like perfect to play. So it's so good.

Q. It was such a big tournament for you. What was the memory you will bring back to home?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I'm really happy with the tournament I did. I played fourth round here. It's the first time that I play a lot of matches in Grand Slam. I'm actually really happy.



Q. You had surgery last year. How do you feel yourself now physically? You have no problem?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: My ankle is perfect. I have fantastic recovery. I don't feel nothing of pain, so 100% good.



Q. What's coming up next for you?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I'm going to Barcelona now for like three weeks. Florianopolis is my next tournament, and then Indian Wells and Miami.



Q. Can Agnieszka win the title here this year?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I think is possible. I think she played very good today. She's playing good. I mean, she's like 5 in the world. She can do it.

I think she has a lot of possibilities.



Q. Can you talk about your training situation.
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I practice in Barcelona since I was a small girl. My coach is Alejo Mancisidor.

WTA Rising Star Garbiñe Muguruza won an absorbing encounter with Agnieszka Radwanska on Centre Court to reach her maiden Grand Slam final.

For the first set and a half, Muguruza looked to be cruising towards victory, but had to survive an inspired comeback from Radwanska to prevail, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

"I don't even have words to explain how happy I am," Muguruza said. "I worked all my life to achieve this moment so there are no words!

"I was just thinking that the match was going to be tough and I was very nervous in the second set. Radwanska has a lot of experience and I just fought. It's going to be a dream - I'm in the final of Wimbledon - but I really want to win this tournament so I must concentrate for the next one."

Muguruza was on the front foot immediately, setting the tone with an early salvo of winners to break serve in the first game. Radwanska has a cerebral game matched by few on tour, but she could find no answer to the barrage of winners raining down from the other end. After just half an hour she carved out her first set point, and while the Pole fended off this danger it was only delaying the inevitable, Muguruza serving out to love a few moments later.

There was no drop off in the Spaniard's level at the start of the second, breaking once more with Radwanska stranded at net. However, Radwanska showed credible resilience to hang onto her opponent's coattails and in sixth game she got her reward, pushing Muguruza onto the back foot to break back.

With the tide turning, there were the first signs of tentativeness from Muguruza, Radwanska turning defense to attack, swatting away a crisp overhead to break once more before holding her serve to force a third set.

Now in full flow, Radwanska was bringing out all the party tricks, one delightful angled backhand catching the eye. While unable to replicate the brilliance of the opening set and a half, Muguruza willed herself back into the contest with an injection of pace midway through the decider, two sizzling backhands helping her break for a 4-2 lead.

There was still time for some late drama, Radwanska knifing a backhand for a break back point. There was to be no comeback, though, a huge serve out wide wiping out this danger.

In the final she will face either Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova.

Garbiñe Muguruza battled past Timea Bacsinszky to win the biggest title of her career at the Premier Mandatory-level China Open on Sunday, and when the new WTA Rankings are released on Monday, the WTA Rising Star will rise to No.4 in the world - and just one point from No.3.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Beijing right here on wtatennis.com!

Bacsinszky was having arguably the best tournament of her career. Having come in off of four straight opening round losses at Toronto, Cincinnati, New Haven and the US Open, she caught fire in a big way in the Chinese capital, upsetting Top 8 seeds Carla Suárez Navarro and Ana Ivanovic along the way.

And she came out firing in the final, storming out to an early 5-2 lead - but the No.5-seeded Muguruza has been on fire herself this week, and she won five games in a row to take the first set, then came back from 2-0 down in the second set to close the No.12-seeded Swiss out in straights, 7-5, 6-4.

By virtue of winning the Premier Mandatory title, the second and by far biggest WTA title of her career, Muguruza will now rise from No.5 to No.4 on the WTA Rankings, a new career-high. She'll also be just one ranking point away from the points total of the No.3 player in the world, Maria Sharapova.

Muguruza, who just turned 22 a few days ago, is also the youngest player to win a title at this level or higher since a 21-year-old Petra Kvitova captured the WTA Finals crown in Istanbul in 2011.

Speaking of which, Muguruza had already secured her spot in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global earlier in the week, joining Sharapova and Simona Halep in the elite field.

Bacsinszky won't leave empty-handed by any means - not only was this by far the biggest final of her career, but she'll also break the Top 10 for the first time now. She gave an emotional on-court speech.

"I actually want to dedicate this tournament to someone. I came from really, really far away, I almost retired two years ago, and this man over there, my coach, Dimitri, thank you for helping me every day. You brought Stanislas to Top 10, and now you've brought me to Top 10. Thank you for every day."

Muguruza took the microphone after Bacsinszky and only had good words for her Swiss opponent.

"I want to congratulate Timea of course - Top 10 is an amazing achievement," the Spaniard said.

"For me, to be able to come and win the tournament after losing in the finals of Wuhan last week is a great achievement. It's amazing, and I can't wait to come back and defend my title next year."

Garbine Muguruza def Anett Kontaveit 6-0 6-4

Q. That was a good start for the tournament. Are you feeling confident coming in?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, was definitely a good start. Well, you never know how it's going to go, first match always in a Grand Slam. I'm pretty pleased of my level, and obviously that I was really concentrated during the whole match.

Q. A question about doubles. Will you be playing more of doubles this year with the Olympics coming up? Is this on your mind? If so, do you have some ideas who you will be playing with?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm still looking forward to play doubles.

I'm obviously going to play less tournaments this year, but for sure with Carla for the Olympics. We are very motivated to try to go. So we will try to prepare in some tournaments before.

Q. And what about the mixed? Have you thought about this? Is it possible with Nadal?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, yeah. I thought about it. Well, I still don't know. Didn't have the opportunity yet to kind of sit down and see the chances.

But, yeah, I think it's going to be crazy if I play like three modalities, you know, in a week, but for sure it will be amazing.