Muguruza Drops First Match Since French Open Title

June 14, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Playing in her first match since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza lost in the first round of the Mallorca Open on Tuesday as Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens upended her 6-3, 6-4.

The first set was on serve at 3-3 when Muguruza set herself up with a couple of break points, but was unable to nail down the crucial break and Flipkens came back to hold. Flipkens then carried that momentum into the next game, breaking Muguruza for the 5-3 lead, and proceeded to serve out the set.

The second set was nearly identical to the first. The set would remain on serve until 3-3, when Flipkens secured the lone break of the set for the 4-3 lead, and would go on to serve out the set for the straight-set victory.

“I had so many opportunities coming to me that I couldn’t take, and she played really well during those big moments. So the match started slipping away from me little by little,” said Muguruza. “It was great to be back here and playing in Spain, and especially in my first tournament [since the French Open] it was even more special. Hopefully next year it will be better.”

Flipkens will take on Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig in the second round. Puig knocked off Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-5 in her first round match.

Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic, third-seeded Ana Ivanovic, eighth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard and Sabine Lisicki all made it through on Tuesday.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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