Angelique Kerber of Germany in action against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during a match in round two of the singles round robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2015 held at the indoor stadium in Singapore, 26 October 2015.
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Garbine Muguruza showed why she is the second seed in this year’s WTA Finals, victor her second consecutive match at Singapore.
The kinetic Kerber broke back to 4-4 but Muguruza broke again the next game and the damage was done and so was the match.
She continued by saying it was a tough game “not only because she’s like a very good player right now, in good form, but also playing a friend is a little bit tougher with emotions and everything”. Or something. Given that I had promised myself a pack of crisps/chips/prawn crackers if it went to three sets – I felt denied.
But it was the double Wimbledon champion who made the most of her opportunities on the key points to emerge victorious.
The two Czechs said they are also looking forward to playing together when they face Russian Federation in the Fed Cup final in Prague from November 14-15.
Wednesday’s results: Timea Babos/ Kristina Mladenovic bt R Kops-Jones/ Abigail Spears 7-6, 6-2, Petra Kvitova bt Lucie Safarova 7-5, 7-5, Garbine Muguruza bt Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s going to be about the returns and serves”.
But for a moment in the second set, it had looked as if Safarova, who first got a taste of Kvitova’s pummelling groundstrokes on a tennis court in Prostejov more than 10 years ago, would finally find a way past her friend.
At 4-4, the Spaniard increased her intensity levels a notch and quickly forged three break points, edging ahead on the second of them and closing out the set with a blistering serve in the next game that Kerber sent sailing over the baseline. You never know how it’s going to go here when you come for the first time.
“I’m really motivated to be here”, she said.
“For sure it was a hard match”. “Definitely I’m feeling very good”, said Muguruza yesterday. Lacing a forehand victor down the line, the sturdy German built a 3-2 lead, but that was her last lead of the day.
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There are certain match-ups in tennis that force players to bring out the best in each other – contrasting styles that always produce a classic. “I have more resources because I’ve learned with all this time playing on clay”.
