Marvellous Muguruza into Wimbledon final

Published by Matt Trollope

Garbine Muguruza celebrates her semifinal destruction of Magdalena Rybarikova at Wimbledon, moving her through to her second Wimbledon final in three years; Getty Images
Garbine Muguruza has produced a flawless performance to swat aside Magdalena Rybarikova on Centre Court and advance to the Wimbledon final.

Garbine Muguruza has continued her relentless progress through the draw to move into her second Wimbledon final in three years.

Muguruza’s latest win was a 6-1 6-1 destruction of unlikely semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova, which she completed in just over an hour.

She has dropped just one set all tournament, to world No.1 Angelique Kerber in a fourth-round classic.

In the final she will face five-time champion Venus Williams, who beat hometown hero Johanna Konta in straight sets.

RELATED: Venus reaches Wimbledon final, ends Konta’s run

The Spaniard was at her aggressive best on Thursday, advancing on the net 25 times – winning 19 of those points – and smacking 22 winners.

“I think I played very well for sure. I think today I stepped up to the court super confident and everything went well,” she told the BBC.

“Once you’re in this situations before you know how to handle these matches better.”

Yet despite her free-swinging approach, there was a controlled air to her performance; she picked the right moments and spots to attack and committed just 11 unforced errors.

Rybarikova found herself down 0-5 in the first set and 0-4 in the second, never given the time or space to execute the crafty, versatile grasscourt game that had given Karolina Pliskova and CoCo Vandeweghe fits.

When she did get a rare opening, she often erred, particularly on her forehand wing – no doubt pressing in response to such an onslaught.

The Slovak survived multiple break points in a torrid fifth game of the second set to get on the board.

But Muguruza clamped down, allowing Rybarikova just two more points for the rest of the match.

“I saw her play before. I saw she was playing very good, very talented,” Muguruza said.

“Just went out there and didn’t expect anything. Just expected myself to be ready as much as I could. Maybe the score did look maybe more easier than actually playing during the games.”

Muguruza is through to her third major final; she won her only Grand Slam title at Roland Garros last year, beating Serena Williams in the final.

“I don’t even remember how I felt in French Open. I’m just thinking I’m playing well and want to keep it up for my last match. And hopefully it goes my way,” Muguruza said.

“I’m gonna enjoy for sure being in a Grand Slam final – it’s a great achievement. I think it’s gonna be a great final no matter what.”

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