A rain delay at the All England Club failed to cool down Garbine Muguruza as she raced past Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-4, to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the second time in her career.
The convincing win hid the disparity in experience between the both. Kuznetsova is a former world No.2, has won more WTA titles than Muguruza (17-3) and has played in 40 more grand slam main draws than her. Nevertheless, previous results proved irrelevant due to the power and tenacity of Muguruza’s play, which featured two aces and 14 winners.
“I think I played good. I had a very clear (idea) of what I had to do. We have played a lot of time together so I’m happy that it worked out.” Muguruza told the BBC after her win.
Carrying on from her win over Angelique Kerber yesterday, Muguruza maintained her game plan of playing aggressively from the baseline and taking the ball early. Three games into the match the Spaniard experienced her first test. Successfully fending off a duo of break points to edge ahead 2-1. Carrying the momentum, Muguruza secured the breakthrough in the following game when a forehand shot down the line triggered a Kuznetsova error, elevating her to 3-1 in the match. Her ability to dictate the points and move her experienced rival around the court drew praise from the British crowd and brought delight to mentor Conchita Martinez. This was best illustrated on set point when a 17-shot rally forced Kuznetsova to crumble, failing to return the ball over the net.
The superiority of Muguruza’s play proved too much for her opponent. Five games into the second set, the Spaniard moved effortlessly half-way up the court to hit a clean forehand winner down the line and break for 3-2. A visibly frustrated Kuznetsova continued to fight with glimmers of her best play, but it only delayed the inevitable. A 106 mph ace moved the Spaniard to match point. Victory was then secured on the 75th minute of play after another speedy serve down the middle was returned out by her rival.
On the rise again
Muguruza will enter back into the world’s top ten following her run to the semifinals at SW19. Earlier this month she dropped to a 18-month low of 15th in the world after failing to defend her 2000 points at the French Open. It was not a pleasant experience for the Spaniard, who broke down in tears during one of her press conferences at Roland Garros, but now she is one again becoming a formidable force in the game.
“I’m trying just to not think a lot. Go for it, play my game and the rest is nothing.” She said about her approach to the tournament.
Awaiting Muguruza will be either Coco Vandeweghe or Magdalena Rybarikova, two players yet to reach a grand slam final. On paper she is the favourite to win, but she remains on the cautious side.
“I think the players that are now here are because they are playing well and they deserve it. So it doesn’t matter which ranking or who they are because they are playing great.”
A runner-up at SW19 in 2015, Muguruza believes she is ‘more calm’ on the court this year. Whether this is the case as she gets closer to the trophy remains to be seen.
A Spanish woman hasn’t won the title since 1994, when coach Martinez triumphed over Martina Navratilova.
