Muguruza, Kvitova Push Through to Final Four at WTA Finals
Garbine Muguruza continued to play spectacular tennis at the WTA Finals in Singapore on Friday, outlasting former champion and Czech Petra Kvitova 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to book her spot in the semifinals.
In her third match at the tournament, Muguruza once again took on a left-handed player in Kvitova (her first two matches were against Lucie Safarova and Angelique Kerber). After the two traded sets, Kvitova went up a break and took a 4-2 lead in the deciding third set.
But Muguruza saved her best for last, winning five of the next games to storm back and upend Kvitova.
“It was a crazy match, right?” said Muguruza. “Petra is an amazing player, and I think today she was playing great—she makes me concentrate and give my best.
It’s amazing. To be here for me is great. I’ve been playing well and all year and hopefully I can continue winning and playing like this.”
Muguruza finishes atop the White Group standings, and will take on Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals.
Despite the loss, Kvitova also qualified for the semifinals thanks to a little help from her compatriot Lucie Safarova.
Safarova downed Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-3, breaking the German twice early in the first set and never looked back, closing out Kerber on her fourth match point to push her friend and fellow Czech Kvitova into the semifinals.
“Teamwork!” Safarova said afterwards. “I’m glad I could help Petra get to the semifinals.”
Kvitova will take on Russian Maria Sharapova in her semifinal matchup.
