Muguruza one step closer to defending China Open title with second round win

Gabrine Muguruza's title defense effort at the China Open was spurred as the Spainiard took down Kazakhstan's Yulia Putinseva 6-2, 7-6 (5) here on Monday.

Muguruza said that she could feel her opponent getting stronger as the match wore on, and added that she's glad to have sealed the deal with the tiebreaker.

"I'm very happy I could close the match in the tiebreak because obviously it was getting tougher and tougher. I think she was getting into the match a little bit more," she said.

She added that she always feels the heat when matches come to tiebreaks.

"Tiebreaks are moments where it's delicate. You feel a bit more nervous and more tense."

Muguruza also lauded her opponent's tenacity on serve, and said that Putinseva kept her guessing throughout much of the match.

"I feel she doesn't like a specific place where I have to go, like a dog. She uses really well everything she has. She takes a lot of - I don't know how to say. She really used her weapons well," Muguruza quipped.

She added that while Putinseva fought her hard on every point, she tried to stay focused on herself and remain in control.

"I really focused on me basically. I know she's a fighter. She's going to go out there and fight every point. I thought, okay, I know she's going to be there, she's going to try to give me the hardest match, but let's focus on me. I have the control of the match." Endit