Muguruza: No Weather Worries

The first autumn Roland Garros may well present a weather challenge for players.The extended Paris forecast calls for drizzly, cool conditions with the possibility of rain in 11 of the first 13 days of the French Open fortnight.More: Inside Roland Garros Women's DrawThat means the new retractable roof over Court Philippe Chatrier may get a workout—and heavy topspin players will likely lose some bite and jump on their shots.The gloomy forecast hasn't dampened Garbine Muguruza's spirit for the red clay.The 2016 Roland Garros champion said she has no weather worries."I'm not surprised because also in April I think, when the tournament'snormally happen, can be like this also," Muguruza told the media in Paris. "I played many years where the tournament was a little bit rainy and gray. I went well, good."The flat-hitting Spaniard, who powered to the Rome semifinals where she fell to Simona Halep in a three-set battle, has the power to hit through the slower, soggier conditions.

Devoted sun worshipper Muguruza subscribes to the "everywhere you go, always take the weather" theory."I'm not too concerned about the weather," Muguruza said. "I know it's going to be tricky. But I'm excited to be here. I look at it in a positive way, the fact that they can still make another Grand Slam happening. I don't really care the weather or the month. I'm just happy to be here competing."Of course, another challenge for players is adjusting to the hot conditions of Rome, where temperatures were primarily in the high 80s and low 90s to conditions 20 degrees cooler in Paris."I love this place. But it is a little bit too cold, to be honest," Rome champion Halep said. "Hopefully, we get used to the weather…"When it's cold, it's a little bit heavier and a little bit different. It's a big difference between Rome and here, that's for sure. 15 degrees less. I feel the cold. I feel like struggling a little bit. But for everybody is the same."Every time I play on these courts I like because they are a little bit harder and the ball bounces a little bit more. The conditions are good for me, in my opinion. I keep the positive way of thinking."