04 June,2016 08:05 AM IST | | AFP
Fourth seed Garbine Muguruza became the first Spanish woman in 16 years to reach the French Open final with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Australian veteran Samantha Stosur yesterday.
Paris: Fourth seed Garbine Muguruza became the first Spanish woman in 16 years to reach the French Open final with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Australian veteran Samantha Stosur yesterday.
Spai's Garbine Muguruza celebrates her semi-final win over Australia's Samantha Stosur in Paris yesterday. PIC/AFP
Muguruza, 22, will face World No 1 Serena Williams, who beat her in last year's Wimbledon final in Saturday's title match.
Conchita Martinez was the last Spaniard to get to the Roland Garros final in 2000 when she lost to Mary Pierce while Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was the country's last champion in 1998. "Emotions can sometimes be bad when you make a final," said Muguruza who will be playjng in just her second Slam final in Saturday.
"Sometimes you just have to stay calm, prepare yourself as best you can and play with no regrets." With the Suzanne Lenglen court barely half-full, Muguruza shrugged off the ghostly atmosphere as well as the bone-jarring 13 degrees to race into a 4-0 lead.
The Australian won just six points in that early blitz before she got on the board with a service hold in the fifth game. But the 6ft (1.82m) Venezuelan-born Muguruza continued to dominate, sweeping the first set in 32 minutes.
There were was no let-up in the second set as the 22-year-old Spaniard broke for 1-0 and held a love service game to go to 2-0.
Williams vs Muguruza past meetings
>> Australian Open 2013: Williams won 6-2, 6-0
>> French Open 2014: Muguruza won 6-2, 6-2
>> Australian Open 2015: Williams won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
>> Wimbledon 2015: Williams won 6-4, 6-4
