Puig on new outlook after Madrid Open return: "Enjoy every moment in the blink of an eye, it could be gone"

Monica Puig was a main talking point during the early stages of the Madrid Open with the Puerto Rican returning for the first time since 2020 Roland Garros.

Albeit in defeat to Danielle Collins, it was a return done with a smile.

"I don't know if you guys are ever going to see me with a smile after I lose," said Puig after defeat to Collins.

After two years away, it sums up Puig's new outlook on life that she would return at a WTA 1000 tournament and give it a go without a care.

"I had thoughts of hanging it up," Puig continued to WTA. "I didn't know what was going to happen. But I wanted to give myself another shot, another chance to just be here and try and see how far I can get. For me, this is like a huge bonus being on the court for the second half of my career.

"So I'm very proud. It's kind of ballsy to come to a WTA 1000 to play your first match back, but I don't think I'm scared of anything anymore."

Back in 2016 was her big breakthrough as she won the gold medal at the Olympic Games but it was a part of her life she wasn't ready for.

"I always said it was a blessing and a curse kind of thing," Puig said. "But I think it was just a really good period of growth for me. Growth, maturity, understanding myself, understanding who I am as a person, as a woman, and all of these things.

"Because I look back on it now, and I'm like, wow, I was so stupid for so many things. But at the end of the day, I didn't know any better. I was 22 years old and kind of came out of nowhere, and I wasn't ready for all of that.

But now she is back the outlook on life is to enjoy every moment as it could soon be gone.

"Enjoy every moment because, in the blink of an eye, it could be gone."