Former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza toughed out a three-set victory over an in-form Ajla Tomljanovic to reach the last 32 at Melbourne Park on Thursday, channeling her inner steel that helped her summit Mount Kilimanjaro two months ago.
In a high-quality affair, Muguruza denied Tomljanovic a first appearance in the Australian Open third round, needing two hours 21 minutes to overcome the home favourite 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and set up a clash with either fifth-seed Elina Svitolina or Lauren Davis.
A quarterfinalist in Melbourne in 2017, Muguruza reunited with Conchita Martinez as her coach during the off-season, and looks on her way to recapturing the form that saw her lift the Wimbledon title two-and-a-half years ago. Martinez was in her corner during that successful fortnight at the All England Club.
“It was a tough battle. We both fought until the end. I think Ajla played very well so I had to level up my game and stay in the fight until the last moment,” said the 26-year-old Muguruza.
“I’m very excited to work Conchita. I’ve known her since I was 14, we have great complicity and I’m excited to have her on my side.”
Tomljanovic had the better start, moving up 2-0 early on, but four straight games from Muguruza saw the Spaniard edge ahead with a break.
Tomljanovic slowed her down, and forced Muguruza to save two break points in game eight, but the two-time Grand Slam champion marched on, securing a 47-minute first set with a slick backhand lob winner.
A 137km/hr forehand winner from Tomljanovic earned the Australian a service break and a 4-2 lead in the second set. The world No.52 was putting her signature backhand to good use, setting up points nicely and coming out on top in most of the baseline rallies. She was soon on level terms with Muguruza, taking a 48-minute second set to force a decider.
The level of hitting continued to elevate, and Muguruza was ruthless on return. Despite fending off two break points in the fourth game, Tomljanovic faltered at the net, sending a volley long to surrender the service break after a lengthy game and fall behind 1-3.
Tomljanovic retaliated immediately, getting back on serve the very next game. Rain interrupted play with Tomljanovic serving at 3-4, but the delay was brief as the roof at Rod Laver Arena was closed, allowing the match to resume within minutes.
Muguruza got a crucial break in game eight, and found herself serving for the win at 5-3. Tomljanovic bravely saved two match points but Muguruza converted her third chance with a service winner. In total, she won 24/28 points up at the net, fired 34 winners, and was successful in 70 per cent of her first-serve points.
Speaking of her off-season adventure that took her to the top of the highest peak in Africa, the 32nd-ranked Muguruza said: “It was a very hard challenge, completely different of what I do. You're climbing that mountain and it's only you. You don't get any award, any prize, any photo, any nothing up there.
“It's really challenging you physically and mentally to be there, and I was just looking for something fun, different experience outside from tennis. Tennis, we're here the whole year, and just to get out a little bit and do something different. I had no idea about it, because I have never done anything similar before. I really like the experience to see myself in the middle of nowhere and just having one clear thought just to keep climbing.”