Barbora Strycova enjoyed another victory over Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza to end the top seed’s hopes in the second round of of the Birmingham Classic.
The Czech had thrashed Muguruza 6-1 6-0 in Eastbourne last year, only for the Spaniard to rediscover her game spectacularly at the All England Club in the following weeks.
Muguruza will hope the formula works again this year after Strycova came through 6-2 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Priory Club.
“I tried to play my best tennis, because you have to, because Garbine’s such a great player and such a great champion, and you have to pull it through and play your best,” said Strycova, twice a runner-up in Birmingham.
What a find from @BaraStrycova! ???? #NatureValleyClassic pic.twitter.com/j5N1i6Jfo0
— WTA (@WTA) June 21, 2018
“Every time I play her, I have to play my best tennis, and it happens. The last two matches were in Eastbourne last year and this year here. I played well and I felt on the court very good, especially today.
“I was serving very well and it was working a lot.”
The world No.24 will face Lesia Tsurenko in the quarterfinals after the Ukrainian beat sixth seed Daria Kasatkina 3-6 7-5 6-4.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova looks on form to challenge for a third Wimbledon title after she brushed aside Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-2 6-2.
REPORT: Federer saves match points against Paire
The Czech will take on Julia Goerges next after the German saved seven set points in the opener to beat Australian Ash Barty 7-6(6) 6-3.
“I don’t know how many set points she had, but I think it was very important for me to win that first set somehow,” said Goerges.
“I think she started to think about not taking her chances and I got a little bit of extra air.”
At the Mallorca Open, former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka went down 6-3 6-4 to Czech seventh seed Lucie Safarova.
“I’m really happy because, of course, I was playing against Vika, who is always a tough opponent and a tough match,” said Safarova.
“I’m really happy with my performance tonight.”
Australians Ajla Tomljanovic and Sam Stosur, and American Alison Riske, also made progress.
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