Muguruza hardly tested by nervy Rybarikova

1 Garbine Muguruza had nothing to do to win her semi-final

Garbine Muguruza stepped on court expecting a tough match from Magdalena Rybarikova yesterday but she need not have worried.

You could sense that Muguruza, who had her thigh strapped, was expecting to have to toil against the Slovak.

But after breaking at the first opportunity, Muguruza relaxed and whatever pre-match concerns she may have harboured were history as she posted one of most bloodless semi-final triumphs in recent memory.

2 Maggie Rybarikova’s freeze serves as a reminder for punters

After a terrific run to the last four, Rybarikova froze big-time in the most important match of her career.

Even when she started to get into the first set at 5-0 down, the Slovak, winner of lower-class ITF events in Surbiton and Ilkley last month, was still overhitting forehand shots and underhitting backhand slices.

It would have made for cruel viewing for anyone who had backed Rybarikova at odds of up to 500-1, but that’s tennis and that’s betting. If the bookies’ terms say each-way a half the odds the first two, then your player has to reach the final for a return.

Still, anyone who backed Maggie to win her quarter at 40-1 with Betfred may not have been overly worried by her semi-final meltdown.

3 Work to be done on grass for promising Johanna Konta

Nobody should knock Johanna Konta’s Wimbledon effort this year, but there is still work to be done if she is to lift the grass-court crown.

Five-time singles champ Venus Williams clinically dismissed the Eastbourne ace 6-4 6-2 to set up a final date with Muguruza, but disconsolate British tennis fans should not give up on Konta’s hopes of beating them all in the US Open, for which she is a best-priced 9-1 shot.