French Open 2019: Garbine Muguruza beats Johanna Larsson to set up mouth-watering third round clash with Elina Svitolina

Paris: Former champion Garbine Muguruza cantered past Swede Johanna Larsson 6-4 6-1 on Wednesday to set up an explosive third-round clash with Elina Svitolina. The Spaniard, seeded 19th, was kept on her toes in the opening set before motoring on in the second on Court Suzanne Lenglen. [caption id=“attachment_6721811” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Garbine Muguruza in action during her second round match against Johanna Larsson. Reuters/Christian Hartmann[/caption] Muguruza, who lifted the Suzanne Lenglen Cup in 2016, relied on her booming forehand throughout and wrapped it up when Larsson netted a service return. “I tried to build points a bit more instead of hitting very hard and trying to get a winner,” the 25-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2017, told reporters. “And then I had to adapt my game to the clay because you have to adapt. You have to build your points a bit more. I also used more topspin and I tried to be more patient.” She will face Svitolina after the ninth seed advanced without hitting a ball on Wednesday when her opponent, fellow Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova, withdrew from the tournament due to a viral infection, which at first was thought to be intercostal pain. Both players have been tagged among the tournament favourites and Svitolina has a 5-3 win-loss record against Muguruza. “Maybe it’s a bit too early but too bad. It will be a very interesting match to play,” said Muguruza. “I think it’s a great third round for both of us. Well, personally, it’s the type of matches that I want to play. It can be, you know, any deep-round match, but it’s in the third round. “So it’s going to be a good one.”