Guadalajara. November 18 (BNA): Spain’s Garbine Muguruza won her first WTA Finals title on Wednesday, defeating Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-5 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
After trading breaks early in the match, the sixth seed deflected away from Kontaveit’s defenses to turn around at a break point in the seventh game, as the Estonian made four double faults during the first set, took nearly half of her first serve and struggled with. Errors, Reuters reports.
Playing in the biggest game of her career, Kontaveit regained her composure in the second set, converting the stopping point in the seventh inning.
But she couldn’t hold her momentum because the two-time Grand Slam winner refused to give up, unleashing a powerful forehand in the 10th game to tie the score and keep the set going.
Muguruza, who won nearly 70% of her first serve points during the entire match, broke Kontaveit again to end the match, collapsing onto the field with her hands on her face before saluting her opponent for a hug into the net.
“I remember when I (Steve Simon, CEO of WTA) was at the US Open and he told me that Guadalajara could be a potential for the finals and I was like ‘Oh my God, I have to make it,’ and now look, we’re here,” Muguruza said before lifting the Pele Cup. Jin King in front of a crowd of lovers.
“For me the dream was to play here.”
This was Muguruza’s fourth appearance in the season finals and her first in a championship match. Her victory gave Spain their first-ever WTA Finals title and will mark the end of the year for them as world number three when the rankings are updated on Monday.
She won in Chicago last month and defeated Czech Barbora Krejkova in the Dubai final in March to claim her biggest title since claiming her second major title at Wimbledon in 2017.
“This is just another proof that I think I’m at the best moment of my career,” Muguruza said.
“The experience I have now, tennis, the way I handle myself, I think is actually a lot better than before.”
Krejsikova and her Czech partner Katerina Siniakova remained undefeated in Guadalajara, as she defeated top seed Hsieh Su Wei of Taiwan and Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3 6-4 in the final to win the doubles title.