Garbine Muguruza produced a straightforward 6-0, 6-4 win against Linda Fruhvirtova in their second-round clash at the US Open on Thursday. The Spaniard, seeded ninth, needed 71 minutes to end the run of the Czech teenager who was playing her debut in a Major.
Muguruza’s game was nearly impenetrable in the first set while Fruhvirtova looked to be overawed by the moment. The former world no. 1 won 78% of her first-serve points in the first set while her opponent managed to win 20%.
Fruhvirtova had no winners in the set but conjured up nine unforced errors. In comparison, Muguruza finished with 11 winners and merely three unforced errors. The higher-ranked player didn’t face any break points but converted all three that came her way in the set.
In the second set, Fruhvirtova had settled into the match even as Muguruza’s level dipped but the younger player was still unable to dent it. Fruhvirtova had eight chances to break Muguruza’s serve but could only capitalise once.
In comparison, she saved only one of the three break points she faced in the set. Fruhvirtova did end the match with six winners, all of which came in the second set.
US Open: Disappointment for Paula Badosa
Meanwhile, Muguruza’s next opponent will be another Czech, the 21st seed Petra Kvitova.
Speaking of compatriots, Muguruza’s fellow Spanish player, Paula Badosa crashed out in the second round. Croatian Petra Martic upset the fourth-seeded Badosa, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2 in two hours and six minutes. Neither player had any success with break points in the first set.
However, in the latter two sets, while Martic’s level of play improved, Badosa’s fell behind significantly. In the second set, Badosa didn’t win any points off her second serve while in the deciding set, she won four of 12 second-serve points.
She also went zero for five in terms of break-point conversions. In comparison, Martic converted a total of four break points across the last two sets to advance to the next round. For a chance to reach the second week of the 2022 US Open, Petra Martic will now play Victoria Azarenka.
Photo Credit: Simon Bruty/USTA 
