Garbine Muguruza was ecstatic after toppling No.5 seed Caroline Wozniacki. The Spaniard sealed victory with an ace out wide and then collapsed on the grass of No.2 Court as the realisation hit home that she was into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.
“It means a lot because I didn't play a lot of matches on grass, so I didn't know how to kind of prepare for Wimbledon,” she said following the 6-4, 6-4 victory. “I think it's like the third time I play. So for me was something new. That's why it's special.”
Muguruza, who dispatched 10th seed Angelique Kerber in the previous round, produced a stunning display against the Dane, who appeared to struggle with her timing. “I felt like it was a completely different court than the other ones I played on,” Wozniacki, the former world No.1, said. “Felt like the grass was different.”
However, she was quick to heap praise on the rising star, crediting both her serves, returns and ball anticipation and tipped her to reach the last four in the Grand Slams. “She's a good player. She's beaten a lot of good players. She has the tennis, for sure.”
Murguruza, the only Spaniard left in the draw from the four who started, entered the match on a 2-1 winning streak, the last meeting played out at Melbourne Park in 2014 where she also triumphed.
It means a lot because I didn't play a lot of matches on grass
Although the 21-year-old hit 33 unforced errors compared to 16 from Wozniacki, she generated 29 winners, while the Dane could only muster ten. “I was focused and prepared because I knew that she was going to try to do a long and physical match against me,” Murguruza said. “So I think I used my opportunities of the short balls, good shots, the serve. I think I played really good. This helps me a lot against these types of players.”
The world No.20, who is into the last eight of a Grand Slam for the third time, now meets No.15 seed Timea Bacsinszky. Elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka produced a stunning display to see off Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and eight minutes.
The two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist and No.23 seed only played nine tournaments last year due to a left foot injury but looked in spectacular form against the 18-year old, who was trying to become the first Swiss woman to reach a Wimbledon quarter-final since Martina Hingis in 2000.
“I was really just trying to stay focused on myself and I think it's important to just take in a Grand Slam one match at a time and stay in the moment,” Azarenka said. “I think I have been improving from match to match.”
She will now play top seed Serena Williams, a player she has lost to 16 times out of 19 meetings. “The key is for me, I still need to find it because I haven't beat her in the Grand Slam,” Azarenka said. “I still have to find that extra step to go a little bit further. “She's a great player, one of the greatest players of all time. I just try to really focus on what I have to do instead of thinking who is on the other side and try to execute my game.”
Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, who knocked out defending champion Petra Kvitova in the third round, was beaten by 2012 Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska, who prevailed 7-5, 6-4. “Another quarter-final here, it couldn't be any better,” Radwanska said. “I'm just very, very happy I could do it again.”
The Pole will play American Madison Keys, an opponent she has beaten in each of their three meetings. “I remember the one that we played here on Court 3," the 26-year-old added. "That was a tough one. I think it was 7‑5 in the third... she was playing amazing tennis, and she's hitting the ball very, very strong and serving unbelievable. I really have to be careful on that and trying to put as many balls as I can to the other side. Also, really be careful on the returns.”
