Game, Set, Recharge: Garbiñe Muguruza’s three non-negotiables on a long flight

Garbiñe Muguruza’s days as a professional player may be over, but she’s not done with the tennis tour life just yet.

A year after announcing her retirement, the two-time Grand Slam winner is still popping up at tennis tournaments—but instead of being among the competitors, Muguruza now enjoys seeing the game from different angles:

At WTA Finals in Riyadh she was the tournament director, during Wimbledon she enjoyed the perks of AELTC membership as a former champion, during last month's BNP Paribas Open final she did TV commentary for Tennis Channel, and at the Miami Open she dazzled in English and Spanish as host of the new VIP Tennis Lounge series. Muguruza has been out and about at the Mutua Madrid Open too, stopping by the Tennis Channel desk this week to chat with Prakash Amritraj about life after tennis.

👉 Read more: A year into retirement, Garbiñe Muguruza reconnects: “Tennis wants me back!” | Exclusive

The 31-year-old from Spain thoroughly enjoys visiting new cities and exploring different corners of the world, always keeping her travel diary full—a leftover from the nomadic lifestyle of top players, who compete in a different country every week or so.

“The way our lives are as tennis players, we’re travelling every week. It’s always let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” Muguruza told Baseline when we caught up in Miami.

“So now when I’m at home for, like, three months, I’m like, Oh my god, what’s next? Where’s my luggage?”

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Born in Caracas, Venezuela, raised in Barcelona, Spain and currently living in Geneva, Switzerland, Muguruza is a globetrotter at heart. After years of circling the world for business and for pleasure, she’s built up a wealth of frequent-flier wisdom—and she’s sharing some of her best tips with Baseline.

“Switzerland is very different. It has, like, cows and mountains and nature. It’s really relaxing, beautiful, calming… I definitely need to get out here and there!” she says, laughing.

Here are Muguruza’s three non-negotiables that help her ace every trip:

💺 “Check in, and pick your seat.”

On the tennis court, Muguruza was known for being decisive and dictating play with her powerful game. Off the court, Muguruza knows what she wants too, and that’s in-flight comfort.

The Spaniard says the key to a winning long-haul flight involves some planning ahead:

“Never leave it to chance or go to the counter to see if there are any aisle or window seats left,” she explains. “Like, just make sure you get the seat you want, even if you have to pay extra—especially on a long flight!

“Whether you need the extra room, or you want an aisle or window, get it. Because then it’s going to change your whole experience.”

💧 “Always bring enough water for the flight.”

Staying hydrated is always important, Muguruza tells me as she pauses to drink with a nod to her own water bottle. But when you’re being hurled across continents at 600 mph, the type of water can be just as important as how much.

“Even though they give you water, I don’t know, the plane’s water always tastes different,” she says.

“I bring my own bottles, just buy them in the airport before boarding. I make sure I have one or two bottles in my bag, and that I drink them.“

😴 “I need an eye mask to sleep during a long flight.”

Getting any sleep on an airplane is always a challenge, especially when you’re not flying in business class or on a private jet like some pros. But with a few everyday essentials, including the humble eye mask, you can help your cause.

“Imagine we’re going to Asia and I need to sleep a little bit. This really helps you to fight jet lag,” Muguruza explains. “The eye mask makes you feel like you’re in your own little bubble, no one sees you, you can fall asleep relaxed.”

👉 Read more: Game, Set, Recharge: Globe-trotting tennis pros fight jet lag by staying one step ahead

Wearing noise cancelling headphones or earplugs is another tried and true tip, while other ways to sleep better on a plane include making sure your travel outfit is comfortable and includes breathable layers and skipping the caffeinated beverages during in-flight service.

Another essential for Muguruza is a hoodie or light jacket to help her stay incognito.

“I don’t like when people see me sleeping! I have a weird face when I sleep, I don’t know,” she says. “I like to be covered, maybe with a hoodie or an eye mask, and then I feel like I can sleep with privacy.”

Stay tuned on Baseline for more of Game, Set, Recharge, which features your favorite ATP and WTA pros sharing their favorite travel tips, wellness secrets and more.