Garbine Muguruza of Spain has been installed as the new world No. 1 in the latest WTA rankings. The 23-year-old Muguruza became the second player from Spain to take the No. 1 spot since the computer rankings began in 1975. For 12 weeks, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario held the top spot for 12 non-consecutive weeks in 1995. Muguruza snatched the No. 1 spot from Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova after she reached the round of 16 at the US Open.
Muguruza said becoming No. 1 is a dream come true, saying it was the only thing she wished for every birthday. “There is a lot of work behind this achievement and a lot of love and passion for this sport,” said Muguruza, who ended the eight-week reign of Pliskova.
This year, Muguruza captured her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and won her fifth career singles title at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last month.
Van Uytvanck in Quebec quarterfinals
In Quebec City, seventh seed Alison Van Uytvanck reached the quarterfinal of the Coupe Banque Nationale for the second straight year after beating Marina Erakovic, 6-4, 7-6 (4), Thursday. Van Uytvanck stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set, but Erakovic battled back and took a set point, 5-4. However, Van Uytvanck dominated the tiebreaker to finish off Erakovic in one hour and 51 minutes. "I think it's a pretty good win, Erakovic was playing really well today," said Van Uytvanck, who will next face American qualifier Caroline Dolehide.
Dolehide obtained a free pass into the quarterfinals after second seed Oceane Dodin withdrew from their showdown due to dizziness. American Sachia Vickery also booked a spot in the last eight after beating eighth seed Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Vickery won 64 percent of her first-service points en route to an upset win over Golubic.
She will next face fourth seed Tatjana Maria of Spain for a spot in the semifinal.
McHale reaches quarterfinals in Japan
In Tokyo, defending champion Christina McHale of the United States booked a ticket in the quarterfinal round of the Japan Women's Open via an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo. McHale capitalized on Tormo’s 10 double faults to finish the match in just 53 minutes.
McHale will next face third seed Elise Mertens of Belgium.
In other matches, Kazakhstan qualifier Zarina Diyas defeated second seed Zhang Shuai of China, 6-4, 6-2; Jana Fett of Croatia edged Jana Cepelova, 6-0, 6-3, in just 62 minutes; eighth seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan reached the quarterfinal when China's Xinyun Han retired while trailing, 6-2, 2-0; and Wang Qiang downed Kurumi Nara, 6-2, 6-3, in 68 minutes.
