By Tennis Now | Saturday, November 3, 2018
Wang Qiang turned alternate reality into a rude awakening for Garbiñe Muguruza.
Pressed into the semifinals as a late replacement for Madison Keys, who withdrew with a left knee injury, Wang created history in Zhuhai.
More: Bouchard On Alternate Career
The Chinese No. 1 reeled off 11 consecutive games crushing Muguruza, 6-2, 6-0, charging into the WTA Elite Trophy final.
The 26-year-old Wang is the first Chinese finalist in tournament history and will celebrate the occasion cracking the Top 20 for the first time in her career.
Gaining semifinal access as an alternate liberated Wang to swing freely.
Down 1-2, she raced through 11 straight games playing near-pristine tennis to overwhelm a disconsolate Muguruza in one hour, 11 minutes.
"I didn't have any pressure today," Wang told the roaring crowd afterward. "I just gave it all and with this kind of mind-set, I won."
Playing her most dynamic tennis on home soil, Wang raised her record in China to 20-5 on home soil, including capturing titles in Nanchang and Guangzhou.
The 22nd-ranked Chinese will play Australian No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in tomorrow's final.
Barty fought back from a set and a break down dethroning defending champion Julia Goerges, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the biggest final of her career.
The reigning US Open doubles champion hit eight aces and used her variety, particularly the slice backhand, to rally past the 14th-ranked German.
The ninth-seeded Barty won her lone prior clash with Wang, 7-5, 6-4, on the red clay of Strasbourg last spring.
"This has been a pleasant surprise," Wang said of reaching the final. "As such, I will give it my best tomorrow."
Wang left Muguruza looking shell-shocked today.
Moving the ball precisely corner-to-corner, the 22nd-ranked Chinese hit 20 more winners—34 to 14—than Muguruza.
Wang converted her third break point capping a near eight-minute game to break for 3-2.
She broke the Spaniard's serve then broke her will tearing through nine of the last 10 points to take the opening set.
Muguruza, who had a testy exchange with coach Sam Sumyk in the opener, looked powerless to stop the onslaught in the second set.
Crunching a backhand down the line, Wang broke at love, her sixth straight game, for 1-0. Wang whipped her sixth ace to back up the break.
When Muguruza sailed a mid-court backhand, Wang broke again for 3-0 and cruised through the finish line against a dejected opponent.