Garbiñe Muguruza and Anna Karolína Schmiedlová came into the match today looking to progress into the next round of the tournament. For Schmiedlová, it was also a chance to win for the first time in five matches and boost her confidence levels. Unfortunately for the Slovakian, despite a strong start, she could not take her chances, which allowed Muguruza the opportunity to take the match.
After a tightly contested three set battle, Muguruza found a way to overcome her talented opponent to win 3-6,6-3, 6-3 in just under two and a half hours.
Schmiedlová gets the decisive break
The set started out with both players winning their opening service games, which would have helped ease any early nerves they may have had. Schmiedlová then stepped up to the service line for the second time in the set and comfortably held to love after a string of impressive shots.
It was in the fourth game, where the first break point opportunity arose. Schmiedlová raced to a 40-0 lead in the game but could not take any of the three chances she had to break Muguruza. Muguruza then had her own opportunity to win the game, however, she failed to capitalize on it which allowed Schmiedlová another opportunity to work herself a break point chance. Schmiedlová did not falter when it came to converting her fourth break point opportunity, taking the game and putting herself in a strong position in the match.
Schmiedlová consolidated the break with another strong hold of service, which put Muguruza back on serve. Muguruza was clearly nervous after being broken in the previous game and she quickly found herself facing two break points. The Spaniard managed to prevent Schmiedlová from taking either of these chances, before going on to win the game herself and keeping herself within touching distance of her opponent.
The next two games of the set went the way of the server with both players holding their serve with relative ease. This took the score to 5-3 Schmiedlová and gave the young Slovakian the chance to serve for the set. Muguruza was not willing to give up the set without a fight and the Spaniard pushed Schmiedlová right to the last point. Schmiedlová had to save three break point chances before she could take the set with her second opportunity. The 21-year-old put herself in a commanding position in the match and one step closer to knocking the world number four out of the tournament.
Highly contested set won by Muguruza
Schmiedlová had an opportunity to get the second set off to a strong set. The 21-year-old had nine chances to break Muguruza, unfortunately for Schmiedlová, Muguruza managed to save each of the nine break point chances before taking the opening game of the set herself. In the second game, Muguruza punished Schmiedlová for not capitalizing on her opportunities. The Spaniard broke Schmiedlová to love, giving herself some momentum in the match.
Any momentum Muguruza gained after breaking Schmiedlová was soon gone when she failed to consolidate the break. Despite saving one of Schmiedlová's break point chances, the Spaniard could do nothing to stop her opponent from taking the game on the second time of asking. After getting the set back on serve, Schmiedlová stepped up to the service line once again. The Slovakian failed to hold her serve for the second time in the set, which allowed Muguruza to put herself back in control. In the fifth game of the set, Muguruza managed to consolidate the break despite Schmiedlová's best efforts.
In the sixth game, Muguruza had two opportunities to put herself a double break ahead in the set. This time around the Spaniard could not take her chances, which allowed Schmiedlová to go on and hold her serve. Muguruza was made to rue her missed opportunities in the seventh game, as Schmiedlová utilized her second break point chance to win the game and put the set back on serve.
Schmiedlová did not seem to have any confidence in her service after being broken in two of her three previous service games. Muguruza made the most of this and broke Schmiedlová on the first time of asking again. This break took the score to 5-3 and meant Muguruza had the chance to serve to level the score in the match.
Muguruza did not falter when it came to serving the set out. The world number four comfortably won her service game to love, to take the match to a decisive third set.
Muguruza overcomes late Schmiedlová surge
Muguruza took control of the third set early on as she raced to a 4-0 lead. The Spaniard showed glimpses of the level that took her to the final of Wimbledon last year, as she comfortably held her serve and broke Schmiedlová twice. Schmiedlová eventually got herself on the score board in the fifth game, as she found a way to halt Muguruza's momentum and hold her service.
After getting her first game on the board, Schmiedlová mounted a comeback. The Slovakian got one of the breaks back in the sixth game, battling from 40-15 down to break Muguruza and make the gap in the score narrower. Schmiedlová soon found herself just one game behind Muguruza, as she held her serve to love, putting pressure of Muguruza to hold her serve, if she wanted to keep ahead in the set.
Unfortunately for Schmiedlová, her comeback was ended by Muguruza in the eighth game of the set. The Spaniard fought off a break point before some impressive play helped her to hold her service. With this hold of serve, all of the pressure was on Schmiedlová, as she had to win her service game to keep herself in the match. The pressure clearly got to Schmiedlová as she failed to hold her service. Muguruza capitalized on this and she raced through Schmiedlová's service game to win the game, set and match on the first time of asking.
After just under two and a half hours, the world number four had over came a tough battle with Schmiedlová. Muguruza now sets up a clash with Myrtille Georges.
