GARBINE MUGURUZA insists she is a “very different player” compared to when she reached the Wimbledon final two years ago.
The Spaniard is through to the semi-finals after another impressive display, dumping out two-time Grand Slam champ Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-4 in 1hr15mins.
It means she is just one match away from matching her achievements in 2015.
Yet the No14 seed reckons she has changed a lot since that breakthrough year when she lost to Serena Williams in straight sets in the final.
Muguruza, 23, said: “(That final) seems far away for me. It’s not that far but I think I’m a very different player. It’s a big change.
“I think I played good (against Kuznetsova). I was very clear what I had to do. We played a lot of times together. I’m very happy how it worked out.
“I’m trying to not think a lot and play my game and the rest is nothing.”
Muguruza had proven her undoubted qualities in the last round by beating world No1 Angelique Kerber.
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And she put in another new flawless performance here, breaking No7 seed at 2-1 before letting out a roar of delight when sealing the first set after Kuznetsova returned her powerful backhand into the net.
The pair produced some eye-catching rallies but it was solid-server Muguruza who made the breakthroughs at the right time, crucially breaking at 3-2 in the second.
Her performance here and throughout the tournament is even more remarkable given the former world No2 was hammered 6-1 6-0 by Barbora Strycova at Eastbourne two weeks ago.
When asked what it meant to reach the last four fo SW19, Muguruza replied: “It means a lot. (Here) was my breakthrough kind of year and to be back and hopefully going into the final makes me so happy.”
Muguruza is set to face the winner of unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova or American Coco Vandeweghe on Thursday but insisted it does not matter who she faces.
The 2016 French Open champ added: “The players are now here because they are playing well and deserve it. It doesn’t matter who they are or their ranking because they’re playing great.”
Murguruza will face Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the semi-final after the Slovakian came through 6-3 6-3 over Coco Vandeweghe in a rain-delayed game that started on Court One and finished on Centre.
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