Watch: Muguruza on Casting Craziness Aside

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Watch: Muguruza on Casting Craziness Aside

Distancing herself from craziness has helped Garbiñe Muguruza compete with calm at the Happy Slam.

The reigning Roland Garros champion has not surrendered a set in advancing to the Australian Open fourth round for the third time in the last four years.

Watch: Vandeweghe Rallies Into AO Fourth Round

Muguruza made quick work of Anastasija Sevastova, scoring a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 63 minutes to avenge a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Sevastova in the US Open second round last summer.

Embracing serenity has helped the seventh-seeded Spaniard reach the second week.

“I think I'm more, like, calmer, if makes sense,” Muguruza told the media. “I'm a little bit further from that emotional, you know, craziness when you, like, lose a point, you get upset a little bit. So I'm taking that a little bit from a distance, you know, try to analyze less, just go for the next point, keep in mind only positive messages. If I have negative (emotions), it's not going to work.”

During a few coaching consultations at WTA events last year, Muguruza’s emotional exchanges with coach Sam Sumyk, including her classic “tell me something I don’t know” dig at her coach, showed the Spaniard can get jittery under stress.

Aiming to compete with greater commitment and composure this year, Muguruza said simplicity has been a key to her week-one success in Melbourne.

“I'm proud of how I'm acting on the court, putting my best effort on the court, try to be positive,” Muguruza said. “I'm happy with that. Hopefully I can keep as long as possible. Honestly, I don't analyze that much anymore. I try to be more simple."

Standing between Muguruza and her first Australian Open quarterfinal is Sorana Cirstea.

The 78th-ranked Romanian has not dropped a set either, including a second-round victory over Muguruza's sometimes doubles partner Carla Suarez Navarro.

"Well, she's beating good players," Muguruza said of Cirstea. "I saw she beat Carla and a few other girls. I'm like, Well, she must be playing good. I mean, I expect another tough match. I know how she plays. She's very aggressive. I'm going to go out there and play like I've been doing these days."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

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