Last year's quarterfinalist Garbiñe Muguruza advanced to the fourth round of the French Open after defeating Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. The Spaniard had a good performance and seems to have found her rhythm on the clay in Paris. In the fourth round, she will have to take on Svetlana Kuznetsova.
A Strong and Solid Muguruza Takes the First Set
The start of the match was very even, Muguruza began playing aggressive tennis, but Wickmayer showed her good defensive skills. Both players held their first service games without complications. The Spaniard’s attacks eventually paid off when she got the early break after hitting a backhand winner. Muguruza found herself in trouble after being up 40-15 when she made an unforced error followed by a winner by the Belgian, who later had the chance to recover the break when Muguruza hit her first double fault of the match. Ironically, it was her serve that saved Muguruza from losing the advantage of a break and ultimately went on to hold and go up 3-1. Wickmayer, who was showing signs of improvement, held her serve to follow the Spaniard close behind.
Wickmayer began the sixth game with a winner after hitting a well-played lob which Muguruza was not able to return. The Spaniard then hit two double faults in a row and an unforced error to hand the break to the Belgian. Wickmayer would then have the opportunity to go up on the scoreboard for the first time in the set, but Muguruza was determined to get another break and recover that advantage she had lost. An erratic game from Wickmayer granted the break to Muguruza who was up 4-3. The Spaniard went on to hold her serve with the same aggressiveness she used at the start of the set. A double fault from the Belgian gave Muguruza her first set point, the Spaniard wasted no time and grabbed the first set after hitting a backhand winner.
Muguruza Dominates Wickmayer
Muguruza began the second set with a solid hold to love, which only showed that the Spaniard had all the momentum. Four unforced errors from Wickmayer gave Muguruza the first break of the set. There was no signs that the Spaniard could cave in as she consolidated the break with her serve. Things for the Belgian were not working, between her unforced errors and the tough rallies against the fourth seed, Wickmayer gave away the second break to Muguruza who was now up 4-0 and two games away from the fourth round.
In the toughest game of the set, Muguruza played in a very inconsistent way, making unforced errors and not being able to close the game. Luckily for the Spaniard, she remained strong and held to lead 5-0. With no confidence left, Wickmayer faced three match points. Muguruza backfired a fantastic dropshot to close the set and advance to the fourth round.
Muguruza’s Win by Numbers
Both players hit just two aces in the match, while Muguruza hit four double faults. The key point for the Spaniard was her consistency with her serve, winning 10 out of 12 points on her first serve. Muguruza also won more than 72 percent of the rallies. The dominance of the Spaniard was notorious, taking all the chances she had to break. Muguruza hit 19 winners and 11 unforced errors against 12 winners and 18 unforced errors from her opponent.
Up Next for Muguruza
The champion of the French Open in 2009, Svetlana Kuznetsova, will be the next opponent of Muguruza. Kuznetsova also comes from a straight sets win over Pavlyuchenkova. This will be the second meeting and the first one on a Grand Slam between the players. Kuznetsova leads the series after a win in 2015 at Madrid. The Russian won that meeting in three sets.