Petra Kvitova is perhaps, along with Karolina Pliskova, the tennis player who chokes Garbiñe Muguruza the most. In 2018 he already separated him from the title at the Qatar Open, in a battle that began with the Spanish dominance and ended with the Czech's comeback in three sets. This Saturday, also in Doha, Kvitova came back to power with Muguruza, although this time she did it more easily: 6-2 and 6-1 in 66 minutes. A shame, because Garbiñe had just played three notable games and also had an unexpected day of rest on Friday due to the withdrawal of Victoria Azarenka due to injury before the match. Perhaps in the end it was not good for him not to play, you never know. Her record against the champion is now 1-5 and she has not beaten her since their first meeting, at the 2015 WTA Finals.
Kvitova, who had just beaten Jessica Pegula by a double 6-4, was much superior and adapted better to a rather windy day. Not in vain is an expert in endings. This was the 38th he played and in it he lifted the 28th trophy (two of them at Wimbledon) of his brilliant career. Former world number two, he had not triumphed since Stuttgart in 2019 and last year he lost the final, precisely in Doha, against Aryna Sabalenka.
The game did not have much history beyond the first five games, when Muguruza had two break options that he did not take advantage of. From there, the player born in Bilovec 30 years ago and current number 10 in the world, completely dominated the situation even though Garbiñe had some chances to get back into the fight. It was not like that because he did not have his day, especially with the serve (45% of points won with first and 33% with second) and he made many mistakes. He took the lead in the second heat with his only break, but immediately threw the lead due to two double faults in a row.
It could not be, but the caraqueña leaves Qatar with the satisfaction of being the tennis player who accumulates the most victories this season (12) and with 115 points more to try to climb in the ranking (he is still 16th), something that he undoubtedly needs to avoid tables as hard as the ones he is encountering. In addition, she has already played two finals so far this year and has lost them with two of the best players on the circuit (at the Yarra Valley Classic she fell to the current number one, Ashleigh Barty). Next week we will see her in Dubai, also in Kvitova, although by separate ways. They could only meet in another ending.
“It was not my day”
“I think I made too many mistakes and some important moments did not fall on my side and I did not have a clear idea of how to play. It was not my day, I did not get into rhythm, I could not dominate and she took advantage of it. He played very solid from the bottom and I didn't play clean. I think the conditions, the wind, have messed up my game. I have to play better in the decisive games. I've always been behind and she has taken off, “Muguruza explained at a press conference, before stating that her good feelings remain intact: “Regardless of today's game, I think it's been a good week. Today was probably the worst quality game I've played all week., but I feel like my level is there. I take a lot of good things from this week, even if I don't take the champion trophy. But I'm happy to have finished. “The Caracas woman spoke about her coach's recovery, Conchita Martinez, infected with COVID: “What I see is that she is fine, wanting to go out. They have to test her and hopefully between today and tomorrow if everything goes well we will know when she can go out. I hope to be able to count on her soon.”
Table and results.