(Guadalajara) Garbiñe Muguruza ended Anett Kontaveit’s 12-game winning streak by triumphing 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the WTA Finals four-quarter ace.
Muguruza, who will play a first semi-final at this tournament since 2015, needed to win his last match to reach the four-quarter of ace and eliminate Karolina Pliskova, finalist at Wimbledon.
Kontaveit had won her first two matches of the tournament and she was already assured of making the semi-finals.
Muguruza avenged his recent loss to Kontaveit, who only needed 48 minutes to win in the Kremlin Cup quarter-finals in Moscow last month.
Muguruza got a quick break and saved two break points against her to win the first set. Kontaveit didn’t seem to find his rhythm during this clash.
The WTA Finals are played in a round robin format and the top two players from each group advance to the semi-finals. The latter will take place on Tuesday and the final is scheduled for Wednesday at the Pan American Tennis Center in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city.
Earlier today, Pliskova came from behind to beat Barbora Krejcikova in three sets of 0-6, 6-4, 6-4. She was still in the race, but she had to wait for the result in the evening.
“Obviously it was a horrible start. I think it was a combination of my bad play and his really good play, Pliskova said. I’m just proud that I was able to erase this set and start over. I regained some of my game, even though it was not very good. ”
Pliskova did not win any titles in 2021, but her ranking remained high thanks in particular to her appearances in the final at Wimbledon and Montreal.
Reigning champion of the Roland Garros tournament, Krejcikova concluded the preliminary round with a 0-3 record and is eliminated. Pliskova now shows a career 3-0 record against her.
Krejcikova still has the opportunity to sign the title in doubles, along with her teammate Katerina Siniakova.
“I think I had an amazing season. I have done very well during the season, but at the moment it’s very disappointing, said Krejcikova. I really want to do well in doubles. I will continue and keep my focus. ”
The WTA Finals are being played in Guadalajara for this year alone. The event will return to Shenzhen, China in 2022.