Garbine Muguruza Gets First Win Of 2018 In Brisbane Amid Ongoing Fitness Battle - UBITENNIS

Garbine Muguruza Gets First Win Of 2018 In Brisbane Amid Ongoing Fitness Battle

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
Garbine Muguruza (zimbio.com)

Top seed Garbine Muguruza required almost two hours to defeat Kiki Bertens 6-3, 7-6(6), in the second round of the Sydney International.

The Wimbledon champion was playing in only her second match of the season after withdrawing from Brisbane last week due to chronic leg cramps. Against Bertens, the Spaniard experienced a stern test as she only managed to convert three out of her 13 break point chances.

Powering her way through the opening set with the help of two consecutive breaks of the Bertens serve, Muguruza came under pressure during the second. After racing to a set and 3-1 lead, former top 20 player Bertens eventually managed to hit back with interest to level 4-4. Then in the tiebreaker, Muguruza failed to convert three consecutive match points before prevailing on her fourth with the help of an error from her opponent.

Despite the straight sets win, doubts remain about the current level of Muguruza’s fitness. Three games into the match she went off court to undergo a medical time out as she wore strapping at the top of her right leg.

“I struggled a little bit today and I had to adapt a little bit my game with my condition but I managed to win and that is the important thing I guess.” Muguruza said following the win.

Bidding to win her first title of the new year, the 24-year-old admits that it is going to be a ‘battle.’ Even though she is the only seeded player remaining in the draw. In the quarter-finals Muguruza will play the winner of an all-Australian clash between Daria Gavrilova and Sam Stosur.

Radwanska continues Sydney love affair

2017 Runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska utilized her experience to overcome Cici Bellis 7-6(4), 6-0, in her second round match. The performance saw the Polish world No.28 win 75% of her first service points and produced 12 winners. Radwanska also heavily benefitted from Bellis’ unforced error count of 40.

“For sure in that match the first set was the key, key point in that match. It was really tight, and a lot of good tennis in that first set. I think she was a little bit upset about losing that first set,” Radwanska said after the match.
“I think I was playing very well in those first few games in the beginning of that second set, and then I was more confident and I was really, I think, playing more aggressive and using all my chances that I have just to not let her play.”

Radwanska, who will play either Petra Kvitova or Carmilla Giorgi next, is hoping for another strong run at the event. In 2013 she won the Sydney title by thrashing Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-0. Since then, Radwanska hasn’t been able to win another WTA title on Australian soil.

“I really like the courts here. I really like to play here. Obviously conditions are tough … but I think we’re all kind of used to that,” she said. “It’s something that is in the air that it suits me.”

Radwanska knocked out defending champion Johanna Konta in her first round match.

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