Spanish tennis star Garbine Muguruza says she will have to prepare for the “mentally tough” quarantine she will undertake when she lands in Melbourne for the Australian Open.

But last year’s runner-up holds few concerns about this year’s event, which will have strict COVID-19 protocols in place, including a 14-day mandatory quarantine for players.

“I’m not really concerned, I think they’re doing an incredible job in putting all this together and making a whole swing in Melbourne,” Muguruza told reporters at the Abu Dhabi Open.

“I think it’s going to be mentally tough to go through the protocols because nothing comes easy now. I have to prepare for that.”

The two-time Grand Slam winner also said military training with special police forces during her off-season had opened her eyes to the hardships faced by vulnerable migrants trying to reach Europe.

Muguruza underwent training with Spain’s Civil Guard after her French Open exit in October last year, taking part in helicopter rescue missions, cave diving and self-defence classes on island of Mallorca.

“It was an incredible week,” she said.

“I’ve always wanted to do military training, ever since I was a kid, but the timing was never right with playing tennis.

“Just sharing with them the kind of job that they do – they don’t get any awards or trophies – it was such an experience.”

The 27-year-old said that seeing migrants make sea crossings from Africa was the toughest challenge when she worked with the coast guard.

“It was quite hard because you see many people in need,” she added.

“I experienced many aspects of the job and I found this one pretty tough.

“I love all the adventure stuff, but there is an ugly truth that they have to face and it really opened my eyes.”