Muguruza sees off Ponchet in first round

Third-seed Garbine Muguruza wasn’t at her best, but she still managed to ease past Jessika Ponchet in the first round at the Australian Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion’s build-up to the tournament was hampered by injury and her right thigh was once again heavily strapped during her match against Ponchet, who was making her first WTA appearance.
Muguruza, though, beat the French wildcard 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes to book a second-round encounter against Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei.
That’s a wrap! @GarbiMuguruza earns a R1 win Down Under, defeating Ponchet 6-4, 6-3, looking for another Grand Slam title and the #1 world ranking! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zmFrraKMtM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 16, 2018
The Spaniard started the match in the best possible fashion as she broke her opponent in the opening game only for Ponchet to hit back straight away. However, the world No 3 claimed the decisive break in the seventh game finished out the set in 43 minutes.
Things were fairly straightforward in the second set as Muguruza claimed two breaks of serve.
“It wasn’t easy. I didn’t know anything about her,” Muguruza said.
“She’s super talented. Serves and volleys, so I had to stay very concentrated.”
Latest
-
French Open
Simona Halep ‘recovered and smiling’ again as she reveals she suffered a panic attack at French Open
Simona Halep smiling again after panic attack.
-
French Open
Daniil Medvedev now loves playing in France
The Russian’s relationship with Paris has been a slow burner.
-
French Open
Dan Evans ‘couldn’t care less’ about being booed off
The British number two lost in straight sets to Swede Mikael Ymer,
-
French Open
Daniil Medvedev happy to grind past Serbian Laslo Djere
Daniil Medvedev was a relieved man after powering past Laslo Djere in straight sets at Roland Garros.
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek makes quick work of Alison Riske to claim 30th straight win
Iga Swiatek makes it 30 wins on the bounce after dismantling Alison Riske.
-
French Open
Wildcard Leolia Jeanjean goes from living on minimum wage to £107k payday after ousting Karolina Pliskova
Good times are here for Leolia Jeanjean.
-
Tennis News
Serena Williams and Roger Federer farewells: Will they play again? Will they go out on the big stage?
Will Serena and Roger make a big fuss?
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic feels PTPA should’ve been part of Wimbledon talks ‘as players’ voices are not heard enough’
“The system has failed players so many times,” says Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic reignite bitter war of words
Nick Kyrgios let Bernard Tomic have it.
-
Tennis News
Alexander Zverev opens up about mental health struggles: ‘I think I was quite depressed at times’
Alexander Zverev on his mental health struggles and social media.