Two Spanish women from the future, far from the parameters of the most seasoned tennis of the glorious years of the magnificent Arantxa and Conchita that opened the way, a place was played today for the final of the WTA Finals in Guadalajara (Mexico). AND Garbiñe Muguruza, the dark tower that returned Spanish tennis to the list of greats at Roland Garros 2016, knocked down the blonde ambition of Paula Badosa, by a double 6-3 in 1h: 25 and will compete this Wednesday for the title of teacher in front of Maria Sakkari or Anett Kontaveit (02:30, La1 and DAZN).
Badosa, at the age of 24 on Monday, arrived in Guadalajara as an express to make her debut on a teacher date. With the recent title of Indian Wells fresh and installed in the top-ten for the first time in his career after climbing 60 spots this year. In the group stage, number two Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari were aired in a spectacular way. Against Anett Kontaveit he lost, already classified and without forcing the machine. As recognized, I had Muguruza in mind. The tennis player she looked at as a child.
Badosa laments after missing an opportunity.
Hector Vivas (Getty Images for WTA,)
Could that affect him when playing? “It’s something that is mentally there. The same happened to me with Azarenka (in Indian Wells), whom I had followed a lot., but I am very competitive. There is a moment when I forget who is in front “, he analyzed before going out on the track. With the Belarusian he turned the situation around. In front of his compatriot he was not able.
Having her reference in front of her seems to have weighed her in the first set. Tense, as if it had a plug in the barrel with which it accelerates its balls vertiginously, let the 28-year-old from Caracas take the initiative. This was already placed with a break up (2-1) and showed that the four Grand Slam finals, his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, his status as former number one, their four appearances in the Masters (with the ceiling of the 2015 semi-final) they were going to have their weight in the game.
Muguruza, who fought in the group stage to emerge afloat after losing in a great opening match against Karolina Pliskova and He played it all or nothing against Kontaveit, put pressure. Well served (81% of points won with firsts), better in the background, he continued to undermine Badosa’s morale until endorsing him a second break. Badosa, who these days repeated “head, head” while putting his index finger to his temple, went to the bench and he hit that head that wasn’t working for him. It did not flow.
Garbiñe took one of those good days that make her almost invincible due to the depth of her blows. Fifth in the world this year (he will finish it third after victory), He had not reached 40 victories on the circuit (41/17 goes with the titles of Dubai and Chicago) since 2017 … The year she won Wimbledon and dominated the WTA rankings. In front of Badosa, he took out his luxury version. Centered. The Catalan, however, was not able, as she had done in many games, to reverse the situation. From going from suffering to enjoying.
Six games in a row, Muguruza, who had had one more day off, was awarded in one fell swoop until Badosa made it 1-3 in the second set. Before, the New York-born tennis player had had three break balls that could have made the game spicy. Mas Garbiñe emerged gracefully and thrown out of the situation with a performance in which little doubts were allowed. Not when he served to win and Badosa was 30-0.
Muguruza, the talented tennis player so many times penalized for her irregularity, did not miss the opportunity to play again for a pata negra title. With Conchita Martínez, who so many times tried to win the Masters, on her bench. Maybe the tennis player from the future will get it to avenge her and Arantxa … 28 years later.
