By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Garbine Muguruza won 28 of 36 net points topping Angelique Kerber, 6-4, 6-4, to raise her WTA Finals record to 2-0.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Wong May-E
Snapping a high backhand volley, a spinning Angelique Kerber came face-to-face with Garbine Muguruza in a rapid-fire net exchange to open the second set.
A scrambling Kerber did well to dig out a backhand half-volley only to see Muguruza close off the net and drive a forehand volley winner.
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Even when Kerber was eye-to-eye with her adversary she often came up one shot short against the advancing Spaniard.
An assertive Muguruza won 28 of 36 trips to net knocking off Kerber for the fourth time this season, 6-4, 6-4, and virtually assuring her spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Muguruza is one of only two women playing both singles and doubles at the season-ending event and she used her net skills to quell Kerber's challenge.
"Every time I step on the court against Angelique, I know it's going to be a very tough match," Muguruza said. "We've played unbelievable matches so I just have to be ready and give my best if I want to have a victory."
The second-seeded Muguruza, who opened singles play with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Lucie Safarova, raised her record to 2-0 in the White Group of round-robin play. She will play Petra Kvitova in her final match of pool play. The two-time Wimbledon winner maintained her perfect record over Czech Fed Cup teammate Safarova with a 7-5, 7-5 victory earlier today.
The youngest woman in the singles field scored her fourth consecutive victory over Kerber following three-set wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and a 6-4, 7-6 (5) decision in the Wuhan semifinals earlier this month. That loss left Kerber looking bitter over the injury time-out Muguruza took deadlocked at 3-all in the tie break.
It also gave the German a glimpse of what she was in for today. Almost any time Kerber left shots hanging short near the service line, Muguruza ripped the ball down the line and raced in to close at net.
The new world No. 3 played like a woman on the rise winning 14 of 17 net points in the opening set.
"I'm really motivated to be here," Muguruza said. "It's my first time in Singapore singles. So I really want to come here and win all the matches I can and hopefully be in the final."
Muguruza hits a harder, heavier ball and immediately pressed her power advantage breaking to open then denying a break point with a big serve for a 2-0 lead.
Relying on her strong legs and accurate counter-strikes, Kerber came back with a three-game run. When the Wimbledon finalist missed the mark with a backhand, Kerber broke back for 2-all. Lacing a forehand winner down the line, the sturdy German built a 3-2 lead, but that was her last lead of the day.
Targeting Kerber's two-handed backhand to stretch the lefty into poked replies, Muguruza stopped her slide with a two-ace hold at love.
The depth and weight of the Spaniard's shots sent Kerber scrambling in the ninth game. A backhand winner down the line gave Muguruza triple break point. A poor drop shot sat up, Muguruza swooped in and smacked another backhand down the line breaking for 5-4.
A short, sharp-angled return from Kerber sent Muguruza into the doubles alley in pursuit and her running forehand strayed giving Kerber a break point.
Consistency is Kerber's strength. She makes opponents play the extra ball, but Kerber uncharacteristically lost the range on return. Three consecutive backhand return errors ended the 43-minute first set.
Muguruza more than tripled Kerber's winner total (19 to 6) and continuously stepped forward to strike off her front foot in the first set.
The Kerber serve isn't nearly as explosive as Muguruza's delivery, but the German has fast hands and uses her legs well dropping into a squat sometimes to fend off the first return.
Kerber hung tough saving three break points in her opening game highlighted by the electric net exchange. She fought off another break point holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Constant pressure finally paid off for Muguruza, who converted her sixth break point of the set for a 3-2 lead. Following a scoring snafu in which chair umpire Marija Cicak mistakenly called the seventh game for Muguruza, Kerber held then broke back with a forehand winner for 4-all.
Attacking net three times in a row, Muguruza drew an errant pass breaking for 5-4. She sealed a one hour, 38-minute victory with a backhand volley winner on her second match point. Muguruza scored her 12th win in her last 14 matches on this Asian swing.