WTA / ATP wrap: Muguruza tightens grip on No.1

Garbine Muguruza tightened her grip on the WTA No.1 with a straight sets win in Tokyo, but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was bundled out of St. Petersburg in three sets.

WTA: Muguruza tightens hold on No.1

Garbine Muguruza tightened her grip on the world No.1 spot as she downed Caroline Garcia to reach the Tokyo semifinals. The form player of the last couple of months, Muguruza wasted little time during her 6-2 6-4 win over Caroline Garcia.

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“To achieve this dream I’ve had since I was a child gives me a lot of confidence,” said Muguruza. “It’s a boost of motivation to hold this position – because I think it’s the best.”

In the day’s other matches, Karolina Pliskova was beaten by Angelique Kerber 7-6(5) 7-5 in a battle of the former No.1s. Caroline Wozniacki was forced to battle back from the brink of defeat as she beat Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 7-6(5) 3-1ret. And Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova dug deep to beat Barbora Strycova 5-7 6-3 6-1.

Over in Seoul, French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko marched into the semifinals with a 6-3 6-1 win over Veronica Cepede Royg. There were also wins for qualifier Luksika Kumkhum, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Richel Hogenkamp.

Over in Guangzhou Aleksandra Krunic set up a final meeting with China’s Zhang Shuai.

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ATP: Paire back from brink

Benoit Paire saved a match point on his way to the Metz semifinals with a 7-6(3) 5-7 7-6(7) win over Belgium’s David Goffin. In the day’s other quarterfinals, Mischa Zverev was a 7-5 7-6(4) winner over Kenny de Schepper; qualifier Peter Gojowczyk beat Marius Copil 6-2 6-4; and Nikoloz Basilashvili was a 7-5 6-3 winner over Denis Istomin.

Over in St. Petersburg, top seed Roberto Bautista Agut marched into the semifinals with a comfortable 6-1 6-2 win over Viktor Troicki. However, there was a shock defeat for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was beaten 3-6 6-3 6-2 by Jan-Lennard Struff. In the day’s other matches, Fabio Fognini was a 6-3 6-0 winner over Berankis, and Damir Dzumhur downed Liam Broady 6-3 2-6 6-4.