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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 16, 2018

 
Garbine Muguruza

No. 4-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza rallied past Caroline Garcia, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, into her first semifinal of the season at the Qatar Total Open.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Playing first-strike tennis against a Top 10 opponent requires daring, drive and deep self belief.

Garbiñe Muguruza delivered on all counts rallying past Caroline Garcia, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, into her first semifinal of the season at the Qatar Total Open.

By the Numbers: Kvitova, Federer Rolling

Growing stronger as the match progressed, Muguruza combined calm mentality with strong physicality down the stretch converting four of six break points in a one hour, 54-minute triumph.

"(It was) very interesting, it was such a tough match," Muguruza said in her on-court interview. "Six-four in the third means a good battle especially against a Top 10 player, so I’m very happy.

"She’s improving so fast and so much she’s definitely showing us she’s a Top 10 (player). I’m very happy to be in semifinals its my first time here so I look forward to another match."

The fourth-seeded Spaniard was scheduled to play second-ranked Simona Halep for a spot in Sunday's final, but took a walkover into Sunday's final after Halep withdrew from the tournament with a foot injury.

The Australian Open finalist won seven straight games to open her 6-0, 6-4 victory over 18-year-old American qualifier CiCi Bellis then announced her withdrawal due to a foot injury she sustained in her inspired run to the Melbourne final.

Muguruza moved into her first final since she crushed Karolina Pliskova and Halep in succession to win Cincinnati last August.



An intriguing clash of 24-year-olds capable of all-court tennis popped with winners both ways. Garcia did damage driving her backhand down the line into Muguruza’s forehand wing.

The Frenchwoman’s two-hander clipped the tape and crawled over as she held for 3-2. A game later, Garcia bolted a backhand winner down the line breaking in the sixth game.

A sharp-angled backhand ended the 35-minute opener that saw Garcia convert both of her break points.

Caroline Garcia
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Both women made stubborn stands to start the second set. Muguruza saved a break point with a diagonal forehand to open the set, Garcia pumped aces down the middle to deny break points in the second game.

By then, Muguruza was really stepping into her shots, hitting off the front foot and letting her forehand fly. She rattled out the break in the fourth game and slashed a forehand drive down the line holding for 4-1.

A coaching consultation from her father did little to slow Garcia’s slide. She slapped a double fault then bungled a routine high forehand volley into net giving the Wimbledon champion her second straight break and a 5-1 second-set lead.

Staring down double-set point, Garcia slammed a backhand return winner down the line and swatted her two-hander crosscourt saving both. Quick off the mark, Muguruza snapped a forehand down the line, snaking it over high part of the net for a third set point. When Garcia looped a running forehand long, Muguruza forced the decider.

Muguruza served 79 percent and loosened up her arm and wrist considerably on the forehand side, stepping into that shot with more conviction cruising through the 32-minute second set.

The seventh seed took a bathroom break to reset and came back to court refreshed stamping a strong hold to start the decider.

The woman in the canary-colored top answered with a love hold.

Turning her shoulders into her shots, Muguruza battered out the break for 3-2. Slamming down a smash for game point, the Spaniard slid a clean forehand winner down the line backing up the break in the sixth game.

Garbine Muguruza
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Garcia zapped an ace wide holding strong in the seventh game then played down the line beautifully earning triple break-point to level.

When Muguruza’s moment of truth came, she met it head on with menacing strikes denying all three break points. A stinging body serve set up a biting backhand into the corner, Muguruza moved in and closed a demanding hold for 5-3.

The 24-year-old Frenchwoman buried a crosscourt forehand in the corner forcing Muguruza to serve for the semifinals.

The ability to channel energy into calm action was key for Muguruza, who closed with a commanding love hold securing her first semifinal of the season.


 

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