WTA Singapore: Garbine Muguruza in excellent attacking display to defeat Angelique Kerber - UBITENNIS

WTA Singapore: Garbine Muguruza in excellent attacking display to defeat Angelique Kerber

By Alex Burton
6 Min Read

 

Garbine Muguruza

The two victors from the opening day of white Group play faced each other in the second round of group matches. It was Garbine Muguruza  who came through 6-4, 6-4, extending her winning streak to four against Angelique Kerber.

Both women had enjoyed strong starts to their tournament. Muguruza had beaten Lucie Safarova, whilst Kerber surprised the higher ranked Petra Kvitova. Today, it was Muguruza’s attacking style and powerful forehand that took the initiative over the defiant defence of Kerber, who herself normally tries to attack.

Muguruza started with aplomb, breaking Kerber in the first game, with deep, punishing ground strokes. A forehand winner saw the Spaniard take the first break of serve.

Kerber came alive in the second game, earning a break point after winning an excellent rally, the passing Muguruza when her volley was too straight. Big serving and a cleverly simple one-two punch from Muguruza saw the game saved.

Kerber managed to break back in game four though, as Muguruza’ s attacking style began to waver slightly. Kerber returned well, and benefited from some luck when a net cord saved her from a seemingly lost position. The break levelled affairs, and  Kerber then held to lead on serve.

Both held their service games until game eight, though Muguruza was forced to deuce in game seven. Kerber then fell under pressure again as Muguruza put three attacking points together to earn love- forty. One break point was saved, but a weak drop shot saw Muguruza pounce, driving a backhand up the line.

Kerber then worked hard to retrieve the break at love-thirty after a brilliant return. Muguruza levelled at thirty all with a beautifully constructed point finished with a volley, and a Kerber error. Another brilliant return from Kerber brought up break point. Muguruza then made her first serve for the first time in the game, earning a free point as Kerber could not return. A wild return saw Muguruza take the first set by six games to four.

Kerber immediately struggled in set two, with two errors handing Muguruza love-thirty. A perfect backhand return from Muguruza earned two break points. Both were saved by Kerber’s forehand, hitting two strong winners into open court after good set-up play from the serve. The game was the longest of the match, but Kerber eventually held.

Muguruza made relatively short work of her next service game, before intensifying the pressure on Kerber once more. Kerber had the opportunity to serve the game out after an ace took her to forty-thirty. Instead, two unforced errors gave Muguruza a break point. This was duly saved, and Kerber held again after another long game.

The relentless pressure continued, and for the third service game in a row, Kerber faced a break point. Muguruza would miss a lob long by the narrowest of margins, and another extended deuce game appeared. The break finally came with a great backhand winner down the line. Muguruza would hold from love-thirty, a wonderful backhand splitting the sideline at thirty-all.

An error from the chair umpire, who called the scores incorrectly, saw the game called for Muguruza. The error was rectified by bringing the play back, and Kerber managed to hold, keeping the distance at just one break.

After the unusual circumstances of game six,  Kerber then earned the chance to break back after some defiant defending forced errors from Muguruza. One was saved, but Kerber produced a stunning passing shot that Muguruza could only flick up, and Kerber smashed the ball away to level again.

Kerber played the best point of the match at thirty-all in her next service game, incredible defending saw her pass a shocked Muguruza. But the narrative of this match continued in predictable fashion. Deuce on the Kerber serve. Muguruza missed a standard return on break point. A final backhand passing shot drifted wide however, and Muguruza earned the right to serve for the match at five-four. That she duly did, fittingly winning with a volley into the corner to remain undefeated in the Group.

The win means that Muguruza is now in pole position to qualify for the semi final. A win over Petra Kvitova would secure her qualification and and even defeat may still be good enough. The defeat for Kerber means that she stills has everything to play for. She is now level with Kvitova for second place in the group. Kerber faces Safarova in the Group’s final round of matches on Friday.

Muguruza: ” I’m really motivated to be here, it is my first time in Singapore singles… hopefully I can be in the final

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