Possibly the biggest upset of the tournament, bar Rafael Nadal, took place on the Rod Laver Arena where Barbora Strycova upset world number three Garbiñe Muguruza 6-3, 6-2.
Things didn’t seem to be going to plan for the Spaniard from the very start. A lack of movement, resignation and a hatful of unforced errors paved the way for Strycova into her second ever fourth round at a Grand Slam.
The Czech player broke Muguruza in her very first service game, only for the Caracas-born player to break right back, but Strycova once again pounced on the Spaniard’s serve in the next game. There was an almost silent atmosphere in the Rod Laver Arena as the fans couldn’t draw any positive energy from Muguruza who had no fire in her eyes and strolled around with her head hanging, even after winning points.
The expresionless face of Sam Sumyk also transmitted the idea that there would be no turnaround after Strycova took the first set 6-3. Making the most of that momentum, the Czech player broke Muguruza in the first game of the second set and then held off various break points in her following service game, all but killing off any glimmer of a comeback.
If Strycova had any worries about tightening up to close out the much she didn’t need to worry as a barrage of unforced errors from Muguruza did half the job for her. The body language of the Spaniard was one of accepting defeat and a lack of desire to look for solutions and a way back into the match. A double break at 5-2 was the penultimate nail in the coffin with the match coming to the end with a long backhand from the world number three which summed up her morning at the Rod Laver Arena.
Despite Muguruza’s performance, no credit must be taken away from Strycova who didn’t put a foot wrong and galvanised a rare opportunity at the age of 29 to go far in a Grand Slam. She is set to potentially meet one of the most in-form players in the draw in the next round, Victoria Azarenka, and with solid tennis like today, there’s no reason not to dream.
“The plan was to play the best tennis I could and hang in there. I’m very happy, I want to enjoy the win and think about Monday”, said Strycova who clearly did play her best tennis and most definitely hung in there.
