Former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza has continued her hot summer form to surge into the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
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Runner-up last year to Sofia Kenin, Muguruza opened her 2021 campaign with a 6-4 6-0 win over Margarita Gasparyan on Tuesday.
Spain's three-time grand slam champion let out a triumphant roar after putting away the Russian without dropping a game in the second set.
"The first set was a tough battle and I was happy that I could close it at 5-4," Muguruza said.
"The second set I took the lead a little bit early and I played it well with my serve as well. I was more dominating in the second one.
"She's a tough opponent. We played actually two years ago and it was a three-set match, a very hard battle.
"So I'm happy to have won in two sets today."
Also runner-up to world No.1 Ash Barty in Sunday's Yarra Valley Classic final, Muguruza said memories of her run to last year's Open decider were inspiring her to make another charge.
"It was very close but to be in a final, you have to reach the final so it was an amazing tournament and I'm super happy to be back and to have crowds, feel alive on court," she said.
The former Wimbledon and French Open champion will face either fellow Spaniard Paula Badosa or Russian qualifier Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.
Australian Associated Press