To the sound of “Guadalajara, Guadalajara …” a group of Mariachis was welcoming the eight applicants a teacher at the airport of the capital of the state of Jalisco, the second most populous city in Mexico that change the expectation about the fight of ‘his’ Canelo Álvarez, the last weekend, for the WTA Finals from today. An appointment that should have been held in Shenzhen (China), but has found accommodation by first time in Latin America before the suspension of the entire Asian tour due to the pandemic.
And in it, there is ‘Latin power’ twice. Two Spanish, Garbiñe Muguruza and Paula Badosa, who take the witness of Arantxa and Conchita, which last coincided on in 2000. The first debuts this morning (02:30, TDP and DAZN) in front of Karolina Pliskova in a group that he called “the toughest”. And in a tournament to be played almost 1,600 meters of altitude, which is an advantage for tennis players like the Czech, leader of the year in aces. The Roland Garros champion, Barbora Krejcikova, and the Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who comes like a shot, will be the rivals in the group stage. The best two go to the semifinals.
At an altitude of 1,600 meters
“It may be the most open edition, also because of the height. Controlling the ball is difficult. The most I have ever played is about 600 meters. This is more than double. The first day I was a bit freaked out by the conditions. But we are in Latin America, this happens once in a lifetime, and that excites me “, says Muguruza, who has been champion twice in Monterrey and who hopes to become “the favorite of the public” for a tournament that, as in the entire women’s circuit, is difficult to make predictions. “The normal thing is not what happens in men’s tennis, that three players accumulate 60 Grand Slams. Women’s tennis is intriguing. Better this way. Every week you don’t know what will happen. The one who plays well those days wins the tournament, “he reflects.
The number one, Ashleigh Barty, he has preferred not to travel anymore, closed his season and is not in Guadalajara. Naomi Osaka, with their mental problems, did not qualify when she seems destined to be the benchmark behind Serena. Nor did he give time to the latest phenomenon, the teenager Emma Raducanu (18 years old), recent winner of the US Open.
In front of Muguruza’s fourth participation, it will be the first of Badosa, that will blow out the candles of your 24 birthday next Monday installed in the top-10. Will start tomorrow against Aryna Sabalenka, world number two, and then Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari await him.
“It is difficult to adapt. The ball flies like you’ve never seen it before. It has nothing to do with Indian Wells. It is very difficult. The conditions are tough, but for everyone. You lose control and it is a challenge “, advances the Californian WTA 1,000 champion. “Is very important the presence of two Latina players. As Garbiñe and I are in different groups, I hope we can become the public’s favorites “, wishes the tennis player born in New York.
After Arantxa and Conchita, it is Garbiñe and Paula’s turn. The ceiling is in the final that the Catalan played in 1993 against Steffi Graf. A good chance to break it.
