Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday took questions about being the "next big thing" in her stride — and pledged not to follow the example of the out-of-sorts Eugenie Bouchard.
The Venezuelan-born Spaniard stands 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall and her reputation is growing ever higher after two impressive wins at the WTA Finals in Singapore.
After beating Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4, Muguruza said she wouldn't fall into the trap of Sloane Stephens or Bouchard, who were both hotly tipped but have since fallen away.
"It's an example of something that can happen, obviously. I think it's hard to manage a lot of things," Muguruza said, when asked about Stephens and Bouchard.
"I saw an example in Genie. It's not a good example. But hopefully I can manage better these kind of situations and avoid a little bit (letting) my spirit down, kind of. So I'll just try not to let this happen to me."
Muguruza rose to world number three this week on the back of reaching two straight finals in China, capped by her claiming a second career title in Beijing.
This year's Wimbledon finalist, 22, is thriving under the guidance of France's Sam Sumyk, the former coach of Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka — and Bouchard.
Canada's Bouchard, known as Genie, was tennis's golden girl after reaching last year's Wimbledon final and breaking into the top 10.
But the 21-year-old is now back down to 48th after a chastening 2015, the lowlight of which was suffering concussion in a locker-room fall at the US Open.
Muguruza, who baldly states she wants to reach world number one and stay there, said she was already used to questions about whether she could be tennis's next dominant force.
"Well, every time they ask me I'm like, 'Okay, I don't know. Yes, I want to be. Let's see if it happens,'" she said. "I don't think there is an answer for that.
"I mean, it's good that people sees in me like a future top player. Well, it's nice to hear that, but obviously that's what I'm trying to do."
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