World No.2 Garbine Muguruza has been forced to retire from her opening match of the year. The Spaniard, currently the Wimbledon champion, was leading Aleksandra Krunic 7-5, 6-7, 2-1 when she was forced to end the encounter due to what appeared to be cramping.
Murguruza won the first set, but was forced to battle hard for it. Krunic started the stronger and won four of the first five games. The Spaniard retrieved the break in the eighth game and it looked as if the first set might be decided by a tie break.
Krunic was finally broken again though. Muguruza had used a coaching break earlier in the set and it looked to have paid off. Krunic was loath to give up her serve. It took an exhausting 26 point game for Muguruza to wrestle the first set from the Serbian.
Murguruza took herself to within a game of victory in the second, breaking to lead 5-2. However, it was then that the humid conditions appeared to take their toll. Krunic won four of the next five games and then took the tiebreak 7-3.
Muguruza attempted cure his ailment by receiving treatment between sets but, despite breaking to lead 2-0 in the third, decided that the physical issues were too much and conceded the match.
Remarkably, it is the fourth year in a row that Muguruza has been forced to withdraw in Brisbane. Ankle and foot injuries have contributed to her poor luck at the tournament in the past.
Krunic speaking after the match: “Not nice feeling for me as an athlete to see my colleague walking out of court, not able to finish the match. It’s definitely a disappointment. I just wanted to wish Garbine a fast recovery and I hope she gets better for the Slam“.
