Muguruza cruises into semis

Marrakech - Garbine Muguruza of Spain has beaten Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Grand Prix SAR semi-finals on Friday, while Romina Oprandi of Switzerland defeated third-seeded Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 6-4, 6-4.

The fifth-seeded Muguruza won seven straight games against Peer to lead by a set and 5-0.

The Spaniard is enjoying a breakthrough season, as she clinched her first WTA title in January at the Hobart International and finished runner-up at the Brazil Cup in March.

Peer made five double faults and was able to hold serve only once.

In the other quarter-final, Oprandi rallied from a 3-0 deficit to lead 5-3 in the first set, and broke Meusburger for a 2-1 lead in the second.

The Swiss reached her first semi-final since the Brussels Open in May 2013.

Meusberger committed seven double faults and converted only one of five break points.

Results from the fifth day of the Marrakech WTA Grand Prix tournament on Friday (x denotes seeding):

Quarter-finals:
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x1) bt Shuai Peng (CHN x6) - walkover
Romina Oprandi (SUI) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT x3) 6-4, 6-4
Maria Teresa Torro (ESP) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5)
Garbie Muguruza (ESP x5) bt Shahar Peer (ISR) 6-3, 6-1