Third seed Garbine Muguruza has got off to a solid start at the US Open with a 6-0, 6-3, win over Varvara Lepchenko in the first round.
Leading into the tournament, the 23-year-old has been deemed a title favourite after winning the Cincinnati Open. In contrast, her American rival is yet to win a WTA title and hasn’t won a singles trophy since an ITF $50,000 event back in 2011. Due to the disparity, Muguruza was expected to come through, but she didn’t have it her own way towards the end of the match.
“I’m very happy that I am in the second round.” Said Muguruza. “I think at the start, maybe she (Lepchenko) was a little bit nervous and I started very well. Then the match equalled and there was a big fight.”
From the onset it was one-way traffic in favour of the Wimbledon champion. Muguruza’s powerful ground strokes proved too much for a lacklustre Lepchenko, who produced 15 unforced errors during the opening set. The intensity of the Spaniard was high as she chased after the ball to place her opponent into great difficulty. Producing a serving Masterclass, the third seed won 90% of her first service points and 67% of her second.
It wasn’t until the eighth game that Lepchenko managed to get herself onto the scoreboard, prompting a loud cheer from the American crowd. Settling down more in the match, the world No.64 started to challenge Muguruza’s dominance with glimmers of the level of tennis she is capable of. As the decibel level inside the Arthur Ashe stadium intensified, so did the quality of the rallies to the delight of the crowd.
Initially Muguruza scored the breakthrough after hitting a forehand winner to the corner of the court to break and lead the match 6-2, 4-2. Lepchenko responded immediately by breaking back in the following game. Despite the blip, the match favourite came back roaring by dismantling her opponent’s serve once again and moving to a game away from victory. The win was secured on the 63 minute mark after a Lepchenko forehand failed to go over the net.
Vamos! @GarbiMuguruza drops just 10 points on serve to move past Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3 in R1 of the #USOpen. https://t.co/DCjJLunsfy pic.twitter.com/1OAYXPp8Yd
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 28 August 2017
Hitting a total of 16 winners to 11 unforced errors, Muguruza has won her first ever match on the Arthur Ashe Court. In her four previous appearances at Flushing Meadows, she has failed to go beyond the second round.
“I have been here so many times and I have never done very well. I guess this year I will try my best again.” She commented about her US Open record.
Since Wimbledon, Muguruza has won 16 out of 18 matches played on the tour. Aiming to continue her high standards throughout the next two weeks, she believes hard work is the only way to do it.
“I think I give everything I have on the court. You know, I sweat, I don’t give any ball away.” She explained.
Muguruza’s second round opponent will be either Claire Liu of America or China’s Duan Yingying.
