Muguruza sets up tie with Sharapova
PARIS: It caught me by surprise that Lesia Tsurenko withdrew. I guess she has her reasons GARBINE MUGURUZA, third seed
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza reached the French Open quarter-finals without breaking sweat when her Ukrainian opponent Lesia Tsurenko retired after two games on Monday.
The third seed, bidding for a second title in Paris after her 2016 triumph, was 2-0 ahead when Tsurenko pulled out with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Tsurenko, ranked 39th, stretched to reach a Muguruza serve in the second game and immediately clutched the back of her thigh before calling for treatment. A physio was summoned and Tsurenko was given extensive treatment.
She played on for five more points but walked to the net and shook hands at the start of the third game. Muguruza is yet to drop a set in the tournament and will face twice champion Maria Sharapova for a place in the semis after the Russian’s opponent, Serena Williams, pulled out before the start of their eagerlyawaited duel due to injury.
She said she had been shocked to hear about 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams.
“It caught me completely by surprise that she withdrew. I guess she has her reasons. It was going to be a very interesting match, for sure,” the Spaniard told reporters.
She has lost all three matches against Sharapova, although they have not met for four years, in which time Muguruza has won two Grand Slam titles and been world number one.
“I didn’t have a preference. I remember I played a quarter-final four or five years ago against Maria, so it’s good to be back there,” she said. “I think it’s a match that is going to be very interesting.”
CILIC PREVAILS
Croatian Marin Cilic withstood an inspired comeback by Italian maverick Fabio Fognini to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Monday for the second year running with a 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory. Third seed Cilic was pushed to five sets for only the second time at Roland Garros but survived to set up a heavyweight duel with in-form Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.
With his power game in fine fettle and Fognini struggling due to an ankle injury it was one-way traffic in the opening two sets as third seed Cilic romped ahead.
Cilic played a loose service game at the start of the third set and Fognini suddenly fired himself up. The 31-year-old, aiming to put two Italian men in a Grand Slam quarter-final for only the second time in the professional era, consolidated the break and took the third set with an ace.