Muguruza Reaches Her First-Ever Grand Slam Quarterfinal at the French Open

It’s another first for Garbiñe Muguruza

The 20-year-old half-Spanish-half-Venezuelan tennis player’s Cinderella run continues at the French Open.

Garbiñe Muguruza

Following her upset victory over World No. 1 Serena Williams in the second round, and her easy win over Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova in her next match-up, Muguruza returned to Roland Garros to face French wildcard Pauline Parmentier in the fourth round.

And the rising star in women’s tennis had little difficulty seeing off the challenge from Parmentier, winning 6-4, 6-2 in fading light on the tournament’s center court to advance to the French Open quarterfinals on Monday morning (AEST).

It’s Muguruza’s first-ever appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, a feat she’s accomplished in only her ninth major. She matched her previous best—a fourth round appearance at this year’s Australian Open—at this tournament, before besting it with her big win over Parmentier.

Muruguzu will next meet Maria Sharapova, who overcame Australia’s Samantha Stosur in three sets. The former World No. 1 is considered the favorite to win the tournament after so many upsets in the women’s draw— with the three top seeds – Williams, Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska – all failing to make the fourth round, the first time that has happened in the Open era.

Muguruza Easily Advances to the Fourth Round at the French Open

There was no letdown for Garbine Muguruza in her follow-up match at the French Open after taking down defending champion and World No. 1 Serena Williams.

In her third round match at Roland Garros, the 20-year-old Spanish rising star in women’s tennis easily dispatched Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova, who defeated Venus Williams in the second round.

Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza, who hit 24 winners in the match, beat Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-4. She won more than 65-percent of the points on her first serve.

She’d previously beaten her Slovak opponent in the second round at this year’s Australian Open.

Muguruza, currently ranked No. 35 in the world, now advances hit to her second successive Grand Slam fourth round appearance, where she’ll face either Pauline Parmentier or Mona Barthel.

Muguruza Soundly Defeats Serena Williams to Advance at the French Open

Garbine Muguruza has registered the biggest win of her still-young professional career, sending shockwaves through the grounds at the French Open.

In the biggest victory of her career to date, the 20-year-old Venezuelan-Spanish tennis phenom outplayed Serena Williams, the defending French Open champion and World No. 1, at Roland Garros.

Garbine Muguruza

Williams, a 17-time major winner, lost to  Muguruza 6-2, 6-2, in her earliest exit at a major tournament since falling in the first round at Roland Garros two years ago. It’s also her most-lopsided loss ever at a Grand Slam.

Muguruza was nerveless serving out the biggest win of her life, clinching victory on her first match point when Williams netted a backhand.

“It was one of those days. You can’t be on every day, and, gosh, I hate to be off during a Grand Slam,” said Williams. “It happens, you know. It’s not the end of the world. It is what it is.”

Williams struggled from the start against Muguruza and finished the match with only eight winners and 29 unforced errors.

“Just nothing really worked,” Serena said. “I don’t know anything that actually worked.”

The up-and-comer dictated most of the points, stayed aggressive and often smacked her groundstrokes down the middle of the court to avoid giving Williams angles — an approach Muguruza reminded herself to follow while preparing for the match in the locker room. Muguruza hit 12 winners against 18 unforced errors. During their postmatch handshake, Muguruza said Williams told her that if she continues to play this way, she can win the tournament. “I will try, I will try,” Muguruza responded.

Muguruza was playing at the French Open for only the second time in her career. She lost in the second round last year, but reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.

In their only other meeting, Williams crushed Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 at the 2013 Australian Open. “I was horrible because I was so nervous,” Muguruza said. But since then she has climbed from No. 112 into the top 40. In January, she won the Hobart International as a qualifier for her first title, then reached the fourth round in Melbourne, the final of the Brasil Tennis Cup and the semifinals of the Grand Prix SAR.

“I think now I believe more in me,” she said. “I’m more calm, because I know that I can play good.”

Still, Muguruza entered the match as a heavy underdog, having gone 0-5 in her career against top-five players and 3-8 against the top 10. In her two most recent tournaments, she had lost to No. 19 Sam Stosur in the second round of the Madrid Open and to No. 61 Francesca Schiavone in the second round of the Italian Open.

Muguruza will next face Slovak teenager Anna Schmiedlova, who earlier in the day beat Serena’s older sister Venus WIlliams.