by Kevin Craig
@KCraig_Tennis
Current French Open champion and 2015 Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza of Spain was shocked on Thursday at Wimbledon as she was taken out by the No. 124 player in the world, Jana Cepelova.
Cepelova, a 23-year old from Slovakia, grabbed the straight sets win in stunning fashion by a score of 6-3, 6-2.
Muguruza allowed Cepelova to get off to a confident start as the 23-year old broke the Spaniard in her first service game of the match before holding at love to consolidate for a 3-0 lead at the first sit-down of the match. Cepelova had difficulties serving out the set the first time as she broke Muguruza again for a double break lead at 5-2, but could not close out the set in her first attempt. The set was won two games later, though, as Cepelova was able to fight off a late burst from the French Open champion.
“From the beginning, I feel really good on the court,” said Cepelova.
That late burst from the first set could not be sustained in the second set as Cepelova quickly stamped her foot down and took control. Breaking in both of Muguruza’s first two service games of the set allowed the challenger to race out to a 4-0 lead. The match was done and dusted at that point as Cepelova was able to hold in her next two service games to close out the match and reach the third round of Wimbledon for the second time in her career.
“I am really surprised, I didn’t expect two sets…Last year I beat (Simona) Halep on this court and I had great memories,” said Cepelova, who surprised even herself with the impressive performance.
The Slovakian, who had to win three qualifying matches to get into the main draw, has a knack for major upsets as she has the aforementioned win over Halep in the first round of Wimbledon last year to go along with her win over Serena Williams in 2014. Cepelova’s three biggest wins of her career have given her wins over a No. 1 player in the world, a No. 2 player in the world, and a No. 3 player in the world.
“I have some great players beaten so I’m very satisfied,” said Cepelova, who was once ranked as high as No. 50 in the world.
“I like these courts. I like to play against the biggest stars, against the champions.”
The loss for Muguruza means she became the ninth consecutive first-time major winner to fail to reach the quarterfinals of the next major tournament.
“I think she played great…she was trying a lot of stuff that was working. My energy was not really there. I was trying, but it didn’t work at all,” said Muguruza.
Cepelova has now won eight of her last nine matches and will look to continue her good run of form in the third round of Wimbledon where she will take on another major finalist in Lucie Safarova, the No. 28 seed in this year’s event who reached the final of the French Open in 2015.
