Garbine Muguruza claims her first WTA Finals title, aged 28, after defeating Estonian Anett Kontaveit in straight sets in Mexico… and the Spaniard plans to celebrate with Tequila!
- Garbine Muguruza defeated Anett Kontaveit 6-3 7-5 to win the WTA Finals
- The Spaniard claimed her first WTA Finals title and biggest win since Wimbledon
- The current No 6 seed predicted to rise to third in the world rankings on Monday
- She gave Spain its first WTA finals title after Arantxa Sanchez Vicario lost in 1993
Garbine Muguruza claimed her first WTA Finals title on Wednesday, defeating Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-3 7-5 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Spaniard won the final four games straight to secure her biggest win since Wimbledon in 2017, which will see her rise to third in the world rankings on Monday.
After trading breaks early in the match, the sixth seed chipped away at Kontaveit’s defences to convert on break point in the seventh game, as the Estonian put up four double faults throughout the first set, got roughly half of her first serves in and struggled with errors.
Playing in the biggest match of her career, Kontaveit regained her composure in the second set, converting on break point in the seventh game.
Garbine Muguruza defeated Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-3 7-5 in the WTA Finals in Mexico
The Spaniard defeated Estonian Kontaveit in straight sets to claim her first ever WTA Finals title
But the No 8 seed could not retain the momentum as the two-time Grand Slam winner refused to give in, firing off a mighty forehand winner in the 10th game to level the score and keep the set going.
Muguruza, who won nearly 70 per cent of her first-serve points across the entire match, again broke Kontaveit’s serve to clinch the affair, crumpling to the court with her hands over her face before greeting her opponent for a hug at the net.
‘I remember when (WTA CEO Steve Simon) and I were in the US Open and he told me that Guadalajara could be a possibility for the Finals and I was like ‘Oh my God, I have to make it,’ and look now, we’re here,’ said Muguruza, before hoisting the Billie Jean King Trophy in front of an adoring crowd.
Kontaveit put up four double faults in the first set and got roughly only half of her first serves in
‘For me it was a dream come true to play here.’
It was Muguruza’s fourth appearance at the season-ending finals and her first in the championship match.
Her win gave Spain its first-ever WTA Finals title. Former World No.1 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was the only other player from Spain to reach the WTA Finals championship match, finishing as runner up to Stefanie Graff in 1993.
She won in Chicago last month and defeated Czech Barbora Krejcikova in March’s Dubai final for her biggest title since picking up her second major title at Wimbledon in 2017.
It was the former World No 1’s fourth appearance at the finals and she gave Spain its first title
Muguruza is the first player to have defeated Kontaveit in the last month – and did it twice this week – ending the Estonian’s 12-match winning streak in the round-robin portion of the competition before repeating it in the final.
‘This is just another proof that I think I’m actually in the best moment of my career,’ Muguruza said, adding that she will be celebrating with some Tequila.
‘The experience I have now, the tennis, the way I handle myself, I think it’s actually much better than before.’
Krejcikova and her Czech partner Katerina Siniakova remained undefeated at Guadalajara, the top seeds taking down Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3 6-4 in the final to win the doubles title.
