Muguruza rolls by Riske in Monterrey to reach QF
MONTERREY, Mexico - Top seed Garbiñe Muguruza dominated from nearly first ball to last en route to the quarterfinals at the Abierto GNP Seguros on Thursday night, defeating American Alison Riske, 6-2, 6-3.
After saving three break points in a marathon first game of the match which went six deuces lasted nearly 10 minutes, the top seed cruised through to victory behind four breaks and 24 winners in one hour, 23 minutes.
"It wasn't easy - I think Alison is a great player, and it's never easy to win matches," Muguruza said on-court after the match.
"It doesn't matter the score, I'm just happy to be in the quarterfinals. During the match, I was playing better and better, and that's a very good feeling."
.@GarbiMuguruza moves into the @Abierto_GNP quarterfinals!
Downs Riske, 6-2, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/9cexvUd4w4— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2018
A blistering performance off the ground saw Muguruza triple her total of winners to unforced errors, as she misfired just eight times over the course of the match.
Outside of the seventh game of the second set, where the American played her best tennis of the match to get proceedings back on serve, Muguruza was largely dominant behind her delivery and off the ground in the victory.
Though Riske ended in the positive of winners (15) to unforced errors (14), she was largely unable to match the two-time Grand Slam champion's power and accuracy off the ground in baseline exchanges.
A backhand bomb by @GarbiMuguruza hands the Spaniard a 5-2 lead! #AbiertoGNPSeguros pic.twitter.com/yOLnXphKcm
— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2018
The Spaniard landed 76 percent of her first serves in the match to go along with six aces, and won 70 percent of the points played behind her first serve overall.
Added Muguruza: "I was able to know how to win all of the points. I knew not to give any points for free, I’ve been serving well and playing well in general."
.@GarbiMuguruza is superb with the backhand! #AbiertoGNPSeguros pic.twitter.com/tiu8LvaQIG
— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2018
The top seed will next face No.8 seed Ajla Tomljanovic View Profile in the quarterfinals, after the Australian defeated Russian teenager Anna Blinkova View Profile , 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
The two have only played once previously, four years ago at the Miami Open, and that match was won by Tomljanovic in three sets.
"I think it's going to be a tough match," the top seed said. "We've played before, and I'm looking forward to [try to] reach the semifinals."
In other matches in the top half of the draw, American Danielle Collins View Profile advanced to the last eight when No.3 seed Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from both singles and doubles with a toe injury, while No.6 seed Ana Bogdan finished off Sara Sorribes Tormo View Profile in a match which had been suspended yesterday due to rain, 6-2, 6-3.
