- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Spanish world No.3 Garbine Muguruza will aim to continue a strong run of form when she takes on veteran Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals of the French Open. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 10pm (AEST).
Both players weren’t forced into long matches during their last round.
The fourth round saw what would have been one of the showdowns of the tennis year between a returning Serena Williams and Sharapova, with the pair’s rivalry set to be renewed.
However, the American had to withdraw before the match got underway with an injury, leaving Sharapova to advance to the quarter-finals via walkover.
It’s Sharapova’s first trip this deep into a grand slam since her drug suspension came to an end, and the Russian will be out to prove a point against one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
Muguruza, aiming for a second French Open after beating Serena Williams for the 2016 crown, is currently ranked third in the world and on a hot streak of from on clay.
It’s her favourite surface, and after an indifferent start to the year, the Spaniard has found her feet. She also picked up an easy progression out of the fourth round, picking up a 5-2 victory when Lesya Tsurenko retired against her.
The three previous matches for the former Roland Garros champion were all straightforward, coming in straight sets including a domination of former French Open finalist Samantha Stosur, with the final score in that one reading 6-2, 6-0.
Like Muguruza, Sharapova was dominant during her first three rounds, only dropping a single set in the first before cruising past Donna Vekic and the powerful Karolina Pliskova.
The pair have met three times with Sharapova winning all their previous meetings, however, the last of those came in 2014, before Sharapova’s suspension.
Prediction
Muguruza is in great form and with age on her side, plus the experience of winning the French Open just a matter of years ago, she should be strong enough to see off Sharapova.
Muguruza in three sets
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this match from 10pm (AEST) on the Philippe-Chatrier court and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.