Spain’s Muguruza makes history with WTA Finals triumph

Australia World

Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza has claimed her first WTA Finals title, defeating Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-5 in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

After trading breaks early in the match, the sixth-seeded Muguruza chipped away at Kontaveit’s defences to convert on a break point in the seventh game.

Kontaveit regained her composure in the second set and broke her opponent’s serve in the seventh game, but she could not retain the momentum.

Muguruza fired off a mighty forehand winner in the 10th game to level the score and keep the set going.

She again broke Kontaveit’s serve in the 12th game to clinch the match in straight sets.

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It was Muguruza’s fourth appearance at the season-ending WTA Finals and her first in the championship decider.

Her win gave Spain its first WTA Finals title and will see her end the year as the world number three when the rankings are updated on Monday.

“This is just proof that I think I’m actually in the best moment of my career,” Muguruza said.

“The experience I have now, the tennis, the way I handle myself, I think it’s actually much better than before.”

Earlier, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova defeated Hsie Su-wei and Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4 to win the WTA Finals doubles title with an undefeated record.

Reuters