Muguruza launches title defense in style
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After losing just one set on her way to the Wimbledon title a year ago, Garbine Muguruza picked up exactly where she left off at the All England Club.
The No. 3-seeded Muguruza was hardly troubled in beating British wildcard Naomi Broady 6-2, 7-5 yesterday.
Muguruza saved the only break point she faced and could have ended the encounter more swiftly had she been more clinical with her own chances.
“I’m pretty happy with my serve and controlling the emotions,” Muguruza said. “You know, to be back in a Grand Slam is always difficult, so I’m excited with the way I’m playing.”
The usual adulation afforded to the reigning champion fulfilling the honor of opening proceedings on Centre Court on Day 2 of the tournament was tempered by the nationality of Muguruza’s opponent. Muguruza was duly honored but the British crowd backed Broady.
However, the 2016 French Open champion quickly dispelled any thoughts of an upset by breaking Broady’s opening service game, and did it again to take the first set 6-2. Broady saved six break points in the second before succumbing to Muguruza’s pressure in the 12th game.
The Spaniard failed to build upon her dominant display at last year’s Wimbledon as she exited the US Open in the second round and this year’s Australian Open in the fourth.
However, her best tennis — and both of her Grand Slam titles — have come during the European summer, and a run to the French Open semifinals last month suggests that may be the case once more.
Only an inspired performance from eventual champion Simona Halep knocked her out at Roland Garros, and with grass being better suited to Muguruza, she is a major contender at Wimbledon.
Her next opponent will be unseeded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
Johanna Konta, who knocked out Halep en route to the semifinals a year ago, advanced by defeating Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia 7-5, 7-6 (7).
Australian trio Daria Gavrilova, Ashleigh Barty, and Samantha Stosur all advanced with straightforward wins.
On the men’s side, Juan Martin del Potro maintained his record of never losing in the first round at Wimbledon with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Peter Gojowczyk of Germany.
The fifth-seeded Argentine will next face Feliciano Lopez, who broke Roger Federer’s record by appearing in a 66th consecutive Grand Slam singles tournament as he defeated Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev was also through after defeating James Duckworth 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
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