By Adrianna Outlaw | Wednesday, Mary 25, 2016
"I think a new tournament is a new mindset," says fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
Roland Garros is Garbiñe Muguruza's idea of the "perfect" major. The two-time quarterfinalist played near-flawless tennis to reach the Roland Garros third round for the third year in a row.
Muguruza powered past 204th-ranked French wild card Myrtille Georges, 6-2, 6-0.
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The fourth-seeded Spaniard converted five of eight break points and won all eight trips to net cruising into a third-round clash with Yanina Wickmayer. Former US Open semifinalist Wickmayer retired from her only prior match with Muguruza, trailing 1-4 at the 2014 Hobart.
Muguruza's run to the Rome semifinals earlier this month marked the first time this season she won three matches in a row.
The 2015 Wimbledon finalist's early-season slide was marked by some sniping at coach Sam Sumyk during on-court coaching visits, but Muguruza said she's turned the page on that cranky patch and is trying to play with more positive energy these days.
"I think you have to forget about all that bad part and just get good energy," Muguruza told Tennis Channel afterward. "I think a new tournament is a new mindset. Of course, I'm human. I have those very frustrated moments that I show people how I feel. I wish, sometimes, that I could be more calm. But that's how it is and I'm just trying to improve my energy and hopefully be there every match."
Invigorated by her Rome result, Muguruza said she's excited to be back in Paris where she stunned world No. 1 Serena Williams, 6-2, 6-2, at this stage two years ago.
"Being from Spain the French Open is like the tournament," Muguruza said. "Everyone there dreams to win Roland Garros. It's clay. It's traditional. It's perfect for me and my family to come here."
Is her current level of play good enough for a Grand Slam breakthrough in Paris? Muguruza isn't ready to go there, yet.
"I'm not even thinking to win (the title)," Muguruza said. "I'm just thinking every match. Grand Slam is a lot of things so I'm just concentrated on my next match and then we'll see."
A day after third-seeded Angelique Kerber was upset by Kiki Bertens and fifth-seeded Victoria Azarenka hobbled out of the third-set against Karin Knapp high seeds restored order in round two.
Following a tough test in the opening set, sixth-seeded Simona Halep subdued 90th-ranked Zarina Diyas, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Halep was broken twice falling behind 1-4 and eventually dropped serve a third time, but battled back in the tie break. The 2014 finalist will face Naomi Osaka for a place in the round of 16.
Halep, who failed to survived the second round in five of her prior six appearances in Paris, said nerves played a part in a tight opening set.
"The first set was very tough and I was very nervous as I seemed to be fighting for every point," Halep said.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova crushed Su-Wei Hsieh, 6-4, 6-1, in their first meeting. The 10th-seeded Czech won 15 of 19 trips to net.
Kvitova will take on American Shelby Rogers for a spot in the round of 16.
Charleston native Rogers backed up her opening-round upset of 17th-seeded Karolina Pliskova with a 6-4, 6-2 sweep of Charleston finalist Elena Vesnina. The 108th-ranked Rogers reached the Rio finals on red clay earlier this season, falling to 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone