Last year, everything glittered like gold for Monica Puig.
At the Rio Summer Olympic Games, Puig electrified the crowd and became an instant national hero on Puerto Rico by becoming the first athlete from her nation to win an Olympic gold medal--in any sport. Puig beat Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Olympic women's singles final, one of three Top 15 players she defeated en route to the gold. Becasue of her stellar perfromance, she was named the Best Female Athlete of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
That Olympic win was the crowning moment in a breakout year for the 23-year-old as she finished in world's Top 40 for the first time, ending the year at No. 32 on the WTA Tour Rankings. Last year, Puig made the Sydney final and three semifinals, and reached the third round at the Australian and French Opens.
This season has not been as sparkling. Puig is currently No. 70 in the world and has a 15-16 match record headning into the US Open. She lost in the first round of Wimbledon and the second round at the French Open.
Despite a less-than-stellar year to this point, Puig hasn't lost her smile or her exuberance for the game, as she showed by rallying and high-fiving children at the "Returning the Love" clinc--part of the fourth annual Queens Day festivities on Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Puig spoke with USOpen.org after the clinic.
USOpen.org: How tough has this season been after last year's huge breakthrough?
Monica Puig: It has been a little bit crazy. I really haven't done as well as i would have hoped. It hasa been very disappointing. But, I am trying to work my way through it and I'm still learning. It's all about learning and continuing to grow. I know my tennis is there. At one point in time it will come back to me.
USOpen.org: Has there been anything good to come out from this year's struggles?
Puig: As long as I keep learning from these type of experiences, it will be good. If it it would happen again I think I will have a little bit better idea of how to handle things.
US Open.org: What is the most important thing that you have had to learn?
Puig: Dealing with the pressure and just having fun and embracing it all. Sometimes when you get caught up in all of the pressure there is a lot of stress, so you are not necessarily enjoying yourself out there. The number one thing is to try to have fun out on the court and that's what i was trying to tell the kids [today].. Even at this level if you are not having fun out there it is not going to work.
USOpen.org: How important is this US Open to you?
Puig: I did have about a month or two when i was starting to feel a little bit more steady again, and then I had a drop. But now we are at the US Open and there are a lot of Puerto Rico fans who come and watch me play. My Mom is here as well, so it's nice. I'm just trying to settle myself back in and try to find myself again.
I know that it will happen it is just a matter of time.
