WUHAN: French Open winner Garbine Muguruza said Sunday that it was about time women's tennis got a "new face" at the top, after Angelique Kerber broke Serena Williams' 186 week dominance atop the rankings.
"I'm happy that we have a new face in the world number one, not because I have a preference, but just because I think it's good sometimes," the current world number three told reporters in Wuhan, China.
"It's about time also to refresh a bit," the Spaniard added.
Muguruza beat Williams at Roland Garros in June to claim her first Grand Slam title, having crumbled to the American veteran in the Wimbledon final the previous year.
World number five Simona Halep also said that seeing Williams slip from the number one pedestal -- where she had sat since February 2013 -- had given players a confidence boost.
"It's much easier to believe in yourself when you see that Serena is not there anymore, like, winning every tournament, being number one in the world for years," said the 24-year-old.
Halep was bundled out of the US Open earlier this month by Williams in the quarter finals -- but put up a brave fight saving 12 break points.
Despite ending 2015 as world number two, she is yet to win a Gland Slam, but now that Serena's dominance has been broken, she said that elusive crown does feel closer.
"I feel that everything, it's open now. I feel that everyone has a chance to win a big tournament, to reach the number one seed," said the Romanian.
"Everyone has a chance to reach the top if we believe. And we started to believe more, I think," she added.
Halep has proven herself to be fairly consistent -- taking three WTA titles this year and reaching the quarter finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
She sat out the Olympics over Zika virus concerns.
But Muguruza said many players on the tour struggle to stay consistent -- something she also battled at the beginning of this year.
"I think in the woman's tennis, it's hard to find people that [are] always constant... most of the girls are very aggressive. Some days they play good, some days they play bad," she said.
"But I think Kerber is an example this year that she was very all the time there. Every tournament, she's in the last rounds. That's why she became number one."
Muguruza was swept out of the third round at the Olympics by eventual gold medallist Monica Puig and was also bundled out of the US Open in the second round.
But the Spaniard has a strong record in China.
She won the China Open last year and made it to the final at Wuhan -- but handed Venus Williams the crown when an ankle injury forced her to retire mid-match.
"I don't really know the secret. I just go out there and try to concentrate and (stay) calm because sometimes its hard," she added.
Both Muguruza and Halep have first round byes at Wuhan and are not due to play until Tuesday.
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