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Garbine Muguruza knew exactly what she was going to get against Timea Bacsinszky: a tough, hard battle. But the Spaniard world No.4 successfully came through 7-5 6-2 and now has a 4-0 career record over the Swiss.

It ensured a first semi-final appearance of the year and Muguruza’s delight was there for all to see at the end of the match.

“I don’t think it’s a slow start of the season,” she insisted. “Obviously I didn’t have the results I had last year, but I’m doing exactly the same: practicing hard, getting ready and fit for, you know, have good results, and this week is happening.

“I don’t think it’s magical. I have been doing everything I can since I started the year, but sometimes you don’t find the results you want. But for sure is a great tournament, this one.

“I think she disrupts you a lot. She gets you really to her game. You just have to be more concentrated and ready for everything because she can do everything.

“I am satisfied. The matches I played with Timea before was very, you know, tough matches and very hard. Obviously she’s top 10. She’s there for a reason. So it’s a great victory for me on clay.”

Bacsinszky was immensely frustrated she could not get the better of Muguruza.

“I think we both played a great match, so tactically it was tough for both of us,” she said- “Well, without saying any bad words, it s-u-c-k-s. Third time I’m losing almost with the same score against her.

“Sometimes it happens that the opponent is making better choices than you are in crucial moments, so I have to give her a lot of credit for that.”

Muguruza will play Madison Keys in Saturday’s semi-final after the American battled to a 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over Barbora Strycova.

Elsewhere Japanese Misaki Doi could not continue her good run as she went down 6-2 7-6 to Irina-Camelia Begu.

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