Muguruza Moves Past Mitu

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza faced few problems to kick off her singles campaign at the Olympic tennis event, defeating late entrant Andreea Mitu, 6-2, 6-2, to reach the second round.

Muguruza has had a stellar 2016 season, highlighted by a maiden Grand Slam win over World No.1 Serena Williams at the French Open, but the Spaniard had been dogged by injuries, illnesses, and inconsistencies since, losing in the second round of Wimbledon and withdrawing from the opening round of the Rogers Cup.

Playing her first hardcourt match since the Miami Open, Muguruza fell behind 2-0 to Mitu, who entered the draw following the late withdrawal of former No.1 Jelena Jankovic due to a right shoulder injury. The No.3 seed turned the tide from there, however, winning the final six games of the set and never looking back, taking the second set by the identical scoreline and securing victory in one hour and 13 minutes.

Up next for the former World No.2 is Nao Hibino, who won a topsy-turvy three-setter against Irina-Camelia Begu, who defeated Muguruza at the Mutua Madrid Open.

Earlier in the day, No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova survived a second set hiccup to decimate China’s Wang Qiang, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0, to book a second round meeting with the always-dangerous Monica Niculescu. Also in No.2 seed Angelique Kerber’s section are No.10 seed Johanna Konta and No.13 seed Samantha Stosur; each won their first round matches on Sunday over Stephanie Vogt and Jelena Ostapenko, respectively. Caroline Garcia ended the hopes of Brazil’s favorite daughter Teliana Pereira with a 6-1, 6-2 win, and will play Konta for a spot in the third round.

No.11 seed Petra Kvitova soared past Timea Babos, who reached the Florianopolis final just last week, 6-1, 6-2, to set up an exciting second round clash with former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane dispatched alternate Lucie Hradecka, 6-2, 6-2, and the pair loom as prospective quarterfinal opponents for top seed Serena Williams, who advanced on Sunday morning.

Source link