Garbiñe Muguruza accelerates towards the WTA Finals

Garbiñe Muguruza has already reached the semifinals of the Chicago WTA 500, after defeating the Japanese Mai Hontama (200th in the world) by 6-3 and 6-2 in 1h: 41, with more difficulty than the score dictates. This Saturday she will face the Czech Marketa Vondrusova (41st) for a place in the final, which eliminated Danielle Collins 6-7 (4), 6-0 and 7-6 (3). The Spanish woman, 27, has between eyebrows to return to the WTA Finals, who have been displaced by the pandemic since China to Guadalajara (Mexico) from November 10 to 17, and a good result at the Chicago Falls Tennis Classic can get you closer to the goal.

With her triumph, the double Grand Slam champion surpassed Naomi Osaka in the race and is already seventh on the roster for the Finals. But it is almost certain that number one Ashleigh barty (down at Indian Wells and disgusted by Mexico's election) and Naomi Osaka, in indefinite hiatus, do not come, which lowers the pressure. The key will be in the Indian Wells WTA 1,000 (from day 6), but arriving with a good cushion of points from Chicago would facilitate the classification of Muguruza, who in principle will be in the team for the Fed Cup finals in Prague (November 1-6), the previous week to some Finals that will be played at more than 1,500 meters of altitude.

Exempt from eighths due to the withdrawal of Victoria Azarenka, the Spanish ran into Hontama, 22, who entered her first main draw since the previous one, and was out of adjustment in the first set. After going 4-0, he lost his serve and had to push. In the second, he lost his serve twice but ended with four breaks.