Australian Open: Garbie Muguruza confirms his spectacular resurrection and play the final after beating Halep

I beat the Romanian 7-6 (8) and 7-5 and measured with the American Sofia Kenin. Being his fourth Grand Slam final, after winning Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017 and fighting for the title in 2015 on London's grass

Shortly after Sofia Kenin defeated Ashleigh Barty, number 1 in the world, and became, with 21 years and 80 days, the youngest finalist in the Australian Open since Maria Sharapova defeated Ana Ivanovic in 2008, on a day which forced to suspend for one hour all the games outside the Rod Laver Arena due to extreme heat, Garbie Muguruza won Simona Halep, fourth preclassified, 7-6 (8) and 7-5, in two hours and five minutes , and play this Saturday against the American, 14 favorite, his fourth Grand Slam final. Winner in Roland Garros in 2016 and in Wimbledon a year later, and runner-up on the London grass in 2015, the Spanish-Venezuelan regains the maximum prominence after two seasons in which it dissolved in a worrying way. With his presence in the final it is guaranteed to jump to the 16th position of the rnking and if he wins being 11.

From the hand of Conchita Martnez, under whose direction Wimbledon won by the absence, then short-term, of her former coach, Sam Sumyk, Muguruza is again a thriving competitor, determined to fight again for everything. Conchita, with whom he has worked exclusively since November, has rescued the best Garbie, who also has a defensive capacity added to her formidable qualities. The problems began soon for her, who had to save two balls of break in his first serve, but it was only an indication of what the duel was going to be, subject to continuous alternatives. The Hispano-Venezuelan attacked the second services of his rival, he had very clear the need to enter the track as soon as the occasion arose, to avoid as long as possible the long exchanges, the monochromatic rhythm where his rival feels so comfortable. His approach was clear in all areas of the game, with open serves accompanied after aggressive parallel strokes.

Succession of alternatives

It was Garbie who came forward for the first time, after breaking blank in the eighth game and placing 5-3, but immediately returned the conquest, with identical guarismo. The first set was a swing, a succession of alternatives that reflected the balance in the dispute. Halep had two balls to take to the rest before he reached the tiebreaker and one more, he was at the service, with 8-7 in the partial tie break. But it was Garbie who converted the room he had, to the despair of the Constance player, who smashed her racket and took it verbally with box his commanded by Darren Cahill.

Although they had only faced five times, with three victories of Muguruza, they are two players who know each other well. Both with two titles of the Grand Slam, both with a step through the number 1 of the world, although the Romanian possessing a more regular trajectory, belong to that generation that tries to stay before the firm thrust of those that come.

One of Halep's many virtues is his ability to play the game. His burning temper does not prevent him from detecting the weaknesses of his rivals and seeking solutions when things do not go according to their interests. He did so in the second set, with a greater degree of exposure, without letting the game go through the initiatives of the Caracas player. However, Garbie, indefatigable, recover the lost serve in the sixth game, equal to five and broke again in what will be the final. Present 39 winning strokes against the 20 of his adversary, evident evidence that he was the one who most sought victory.