Garbiñe Muguruza put the tequila, but Karolina Pliskova held the drinks in the debut match of the two former number 1s in the WTA Finals of Guadalajara. The Spanish, who visited before the tournament the ‘magic town’ of the same name where the brandy is produced, He managed to save three match points in a brave match, but ended up succumbing 4-6, 6-2 and 7-6 (6) in 2h: 26 against the Czech.
The two tennis players resigned from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals last week in order to adapt to the 1,566 meters of altitude. from the capital of Jalisco that makes the ball fly. And it was difficult for them to measure their blows in the first set. From the start, the 29-year-old Czech and 4th in the world, broke up with 2-0. But a very plugged Garbiñe won four games in a row, brave and looking for the reverse of one of his ‘black beasts’ with which he presented a negative balance of 8-2. His courage gave him the partial.
But Pliskova, leader of the circuit in aces, adjusted her barrel and corrected the course. He served well and subtracted like a beast, more direct, to end the second set with two breaks and only four unforced errors compared to 18 in the first quarter.
The third manga was developed with dramatic overtones. With the Spanish, in her fourth participation in the Finals, always looking for the match. He achieved a start break, made Pliskova counterbreak, Garbiñe saved a ball for 5-4 and Pliskova served, lifted two match balls later, got to have a break for 6-5 and serve, lost it. He rowed and reached the tie-break where he was 3-1, wasted it, saved another match ball and the fourth, with the public pushing it, gave up. The drama ended with joy from the Czech tower.
Now, the Spanish will have to face Barbora Krejcikova on Friday, who lost 6-3 and 6-4 against Anett Kontaveit, the Estonian who has 11 victories and is scary with four titles in the last seven tournaments.