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2016 French Open round-up: Garbine Muguruza reaches third round

By The Sports Xchange
Fans wait to get in to Roland Garros due to extra security during the French Open tennis in Paris on May 24, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI
1 of 3 | Fans wait to get in to Roland Garros due to extra security during the French Open tennis in Paris on May 24, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain romped to an easy 6-2, 6-0 victory over wildcard Myrtille Georges to reach the third round of the French Open on Wednesday.

Muguruza, the 2015 finalist at Wimbledon, said the unfamiliarity with her opponent posed her problems in the early match in Paris.

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"It was not an easy match, especially playing a French player at home," Muguruza said. "I did not know her at all, and throughout the match I had to really build my strategy to beat her. It wasn't easy, and at the same time I think she was a little nervous. I guess I was nervous a little, too, but it helped me."

No. 6 seed Simona Halep of Romania, a 2014 finalist in Paris, had to rally from 4-1 down in the first set to beat Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-6 (5), 6-2.

"I expected a tough match. I played two times against her and I know that the score was easier, but still I felt she was very dangerous," Halep said. "She has a flat game and today she played really well. First set she was hitting all the balls and very flat, so the ball didn't bounce too much. I stayed a little bit too far from court. But in the end I found the rhythm. I found the way to play aggressive, to dominate the game, and I finished it in two sets."

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In the third round, Halep will face Naomi Osaka of Japan after she eased past Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Germany 6-3, 6-3.

Also safely through to the last 32 were 10th-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Hsieh Su-Wei of China, and 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who won 6-1, 6-3 win over Heather Watson of Guernsey.

On the men's side, third-seeded Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland moved into the third with a 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4 victory over 93rd-ranked Taro Daniel of Japan.

Wawrinka will now face No. 30 Jeremy Chardy of France for a spot in the round of 16.

Japan's Kei Nishikori broke Andrey Kuznetsov or Russia six times and saved seven break points in a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win.

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