Rome, May 13 (IANS): Spanish tennis star Garbine Muguruza advanced to the Italian Open semi-finals after defeating Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-2 here on Friday. World No. 4 Muguruza, who had never faced the Swiss on clay, took nearly two hours to defeat the world No. 10, who won the Rabat tournament this year.
This is the first time the 22-year-old Spaniard has reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open; she had never progressed this far during her previous three appearances in the tournament. The result continues her resurgence after suffering an indifferent run of form to start the 2016 season.
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A runner-up at Wimbledon last year, Muguruza is among a handful of young female players trying to break Serena Williams’ hegemony over the top of women's tennis. She has become the first semi-finalist of the 2016 edition of the Rome tournament, and being one of only three seeded players left in the draw, will hope for a shot at the title on Sunday.
Tomorrow Muguruza will face the winner of the match between American Madison Keys and the Czech Barbora Strycova, who play later on Friday.
