GARBINE Muguruza is bearing down on a return to the world No 1 ranking and a third major after dispatching Maria Sharapova from the French Open in a flat quarter-final.
The Spaniard’s power exposed Sharapova’s stilted movement in a 6-2 6-1 hammering on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The 2016 Roland Garros winner and reigning Wimbledon champion swatted a modest 10 winners and two aces, while restricting her unforced error count to just 15.
Pressure was the right-hander’s most potent weapon, drawing 27 unforced and 20 forced errors from Sharapova.
The 70-minute defeat was Sharapova’s heaviest in Paris since a 6-0 6-2 flogging at the hands of Slovak Dominika Cibulkova in the 2009 quarter-finals.
The victory leaves Muguruza in the hunt to unseat Simona Halep at No 1.
Muguruza will play either Halep or Angelique Kerber in the semis for a place in Saturday’s final.
