Australian experience and guile takes on Spanish youth and power at the French Open on Friday when Samantha Stosur plays Garbine Muguruza in the first of the semi-finals. Stosur at 32 is a veteran of 15 years on the WTA circuit who won the 2011 US Open and finished runner-up at Roland Garros the previous year.
Her game revolves around a big, swinging serve, plenty of top spin, changes of rhythm and her years of experience.
Muguruzu is 10 years younger and her biggest achievement to date was reaching last year's Wimbledon final where she lost to Serena Williams.
The Venezuelan-born Spaniard is in the modern mould of tall women players reliant on power-hitting from the baseline.
That throws up an intriguing clash of contrasts that draws fourth-seeded Muguruza into the unchartered territory of a Roland Garros semi-final.
"I don't think I have played against her. Maybe. Maybe. I know that she reached the final at the French Open," she said after her quarter-final win. As it turns out they have played, just the once, on clay at Madrid in 2014 when Stosur won in three sets.
"She plays well. It will be a tough match. In a semi-final match, all matches are tough. Lots of players are under stress and they want to reach the final, so I will focus on my tennis and I will give my best," Muguruza said.
Comments
Comments are closed.