Nature Valley Classic: Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza suffers shock exit
Barbora Strycova pulled off one of the biggest upsets of this year’s Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham by beating top seed Garbine Muguruza – a 6-2, 6-4 win which left both the reigning Wimbledon champion the Ann Jones Centre Court crowd reeling.
Strycova is no stranger to the Edgbaston Priory Club’s
famous grass courts, having reached the singles final there in 2014 and 2016 and won the doubles title in 2016. Her smart, versatile tennis proved too much for an off-form Muguruza.
“I like this tournament. I like to come here. I like the people, the surroundings. It feels like, not home, but it feels very nice to be here,” said Strycova.
“I was a long time in Paris (at Roland Garros), so I was not sure if I can come here. I wasn’t feeling well. But then I came and it feels everything nice. I enjoy playing on grass here.”
Strycova faces Heather Watson’s conqueror Lesia Tsurenko in today’s quarter-finals after the Ukrainian knocked out sixth seed Daria Kasatkina.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova is bidding to be the first woman since Maria Sharapova to defend the Nature Valley Classic singles title and, judging by how mercilessly she dismissed Daria Gavrilova 6-2, 6-2 yesterday, she remains a huge threat to the rest of the field.
Kvitova has a potentially tricky quarter-final in prospect against Julia Goerges after Goerges ended Ashleigh Barty’s winning run on grass with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory.
The young Australian won last week’s Nature Valley Open title in Nottingham but ran out of steam against the able German and will now continue her Wimbledon preparations at next week’s Nature Valley International in Eastbourne.
Second seed Elina Svitolina will be back on action, taking on Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu for a place in the semi-finals.
Svitolina is still finding her way on grass but, having reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, remains a contender to lift the Maud Watson Trophy on Sunday.
