Muguruza First Into Rome Semifinals

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ROME, Italy – Garbiñe Muguruza advanced to her first semifinal of the season with a straight set win over Timea Bacsinszky at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Rome right here on wtatennis.com!

Last year, Muguruza locked horns with Bacsinszky three times, coming out on top on all three occasions. But for well over an hour at the Foro Italico, she struggled to subdue her Swiss rival and stamp her authority on the contest.

Ultimately, Muguruza’s aggression paid off, as she broke decisively in the final game of the opening stanza courtesy of a thumping cross-court backhand. The Spaniard continued to go for her shots in the second, reeling off the last four games to triumph, 7-5, 6-2, and set up a meeting with Madison Keys.

“I am satisfied. The matches I played with Timea before were very tough matches and very hard,” Muguruza said. “Obviously she’s Top 10. She’s there for a reason. So it’s a great victory for me on clay, also, because she beat Carla yesterday so that’s a sign she’s playing well.”

Muguruza arrived in the Italian capital on the back of an indifferent start to the year, winning consecutive matches at just three of her eight tournament outings. Despite her difficulties, the World No.4’s self-belief never wavered: “Obviously I didn’t have the results I had last year, but I’m doing exactly the same: practicing hard, getting ready and fit to get those good results, and that’s why this week is happening.

“I don’t think it’s magical. I have been doing everything I can since I started the year, but sometimes you don’t find the results you want. But for sure is a great tournament, this one.”

Over on Grandstand, Irina-Camelia Begu withstood a second set wobble to defeat Misaki Doi and reach the first Premier 5 semifinal of her career. After breezing through the first set, Begu came from 3-1 down in the second to eventually prevail, 6-2, 7-6(3).

By virtue of the result, Begu, who also reached the quarterfinals in Madrid, will return to the Top 30 in time to be seeded for the French Open, which begins a week on Sunday.

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