Muguruza moves past Diyas and into Shenzhen semifinals

Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza served up thirteen aces in route to reaching her first semifinal since last April.



Muguruza moves past Diyas and into Shenzhen semifinals

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Sixth-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza advanced to the semifinals at the Shenzhen Open by beating Zarina Diyas 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on Thursday.

The two-time Grand Slam champion from Spain had 13 aces, including seven in the final set.

"I was expecting a very tough match, and at the end, it was," Muguruza said. "I think she came out in the second set playing much better. I just kept competing and I'm happy with these kind of victories."

Garbine Muguruza of Spain hits a return against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan during their women's singles quarter-final match at the Shenzhen Open tennis tournament in Shenzhen in China's southern Guangdong province on January 9, 2020. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
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Muguruza will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova after the fifth-seeded Russian defeated fourth-seeded Qiang Wang 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Also, Elena Rybakina upset third-seeded Elise Mertens 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. She will next meet Kristyna Pliskova, who beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-4, 6-4.