Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur stormed into the semifinals of the 2016 French Open with a tough straight-sets win over Tsvetana Pironkova. She will look to extend her winning streak to six matches when she squares off with Garbiñe Muguruza in what is surely a mouth-watering semis clash.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this blockbuster matchup. While you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the quarterfinal match between defending champion Serena Williams and Yulia Putintseva.
Garbiñe Muguruza barged into the semifinals of the 2016 French Open with a 7-5, 6-3 win over American Shelby Rogers. It was a fantastic performance from Muguruza who needed one and hour and 19 minutes to record the straight-sets victory. Muguruza put forth an extreme masterclass in this match, outhitting Rogers in the winners department, 21-13. With the victory, Muguruza advanced to the semis stage of the French Open for the first time in her career.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for Muguruza as standing in her way in the next round is Samantha Stosur. Muguruza is 0-1 lifetime against Stosur. She lost to Stosur in three sets in Madrid in their only previous meeting two years ago. For Muguruza to record the victory this time around, she will need to build on her highly-efficient play against Rogers. The Spaniard committed just 13 unforced errors in her win against Rogers. That’s quite an improvement for Muguruza who was averaging a whopping 26.8 unforced errors in this tournament prior to that match.
Samantha Stosur’s quest for a first French Open crown is still very much alive after a thrilling 6-4, 7-6 (6) win over Tsvetana Pironkova in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. It was an impressive display from the 30-year-old who needed one hour and 47 minutes to oust the Bulgarian.With the victory, Stosur booked a place in the semifinals at Roland Garros for the first time since 2012.
Playing on Court Philippe Chatrier, Stosur displayed the aggressiveness that made her one of the most feared players in the women’s game. She blasted 21 winners and won 60 percent of her first serve points. What proved to be the difference in the match, however, was her return. Stosur converted four of her six break point opportunities against Pironkova.
For Stosur to grab the all-important victory against Muguruza, she will need to find ways to limit her miscues. She committed a whopping 28 unforced errors in the win against Pironkova. Stosur has recorded an incredible 143 unforced errors over her first five matches in this year’s French Open.
Stosur is 8-2 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Muguruza (-300) ekes past Stosur in three tough sets.
