Garbiñe Muguruza had a full circle moment in 2015; just over a year after announcing herself to the tennis world by beating World No.1 Serena Williams in the second round of the French Open, she found herself across the net from the American in her first major final.

“I think in tennis everything is so fast,” the Spaniard said after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in the Wimbledon semifinals. “It’s actually true that two years ago I was not in the Top 100. It’s like, wow! In so short a time, I’m here.

“But it happens so many times. People, suddenly you see them on top, you don’t see them, then you see them again. I think sports is like this. You have to try to be more consistent, you know.”

Muguruza showed that consistency at the majors this season, reaching the second week of three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, twice losing to Williams, who gave a glowing review of her young rival after their match at the All-England Club. 

“Oh, my gosh. I think she’s such a great player. She’s beaten me before. I think she really stepped up to the plate today. She was determined to do well and to win. She came out there to win. She wasn’t out there just to play a final. I think that says a lot about her and her future.

“She never gave up, literally ever.”

One who typically saved her best tennis for the biggest stages, Muguruza made great strides to show she could compete for titles week in, week out during the Asia Swing. The new World No.3 fought fatigue and niggling injuries to reach back-to-back finals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open, defeating Radwanska and Timea Bacsinszky to win the latter for the biggest tournament of her career.

The strong fall saw her rise to new career-highs and and earn a debut spot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. 

“It’s great to be here, actually,” she said before the WTA Finals began. “I think it’s a very good position to be here playing singles and doubles [with Carla Suárez Navarro]. I’m very excited. I’m kind of a rookie.

“I’m nervous, actually, to start and see what happens. I mean, it’s perfect to be able to be here competing with the best eight players of the year. So good that I’m one of them.”

Muguruza showed that she belonged in singles and doubles, winning all three of her round robin singles matches before falling to eventual champion Radwanska in three sets, and making the doubles final with Suárez Navarro. A year that brought much experience, she believes, will be one that helps propel her to even higher heights in 2016.

“I learned that in bad situations, I’m able to calm down, clear my mind and start from zero. I learned that I’m stronger than I thought in these moments. This year has been a great experience for me. Hopefully it can help me next year, especially in the tough moments like the ones that I’ve lived this year, to go through.”