THE LATEST TENNIS RESULTS FROM SINGAPORE, THE SEMIS ARE SET WITH SHARAPOVA VERSUS KVITOVA, AND RADWANSKA TO PLAY MUGURUZA

Written by: on 30th October 2015
BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2015 in Singapore
THE LATEST TENNIS RESULTS FROM SINGAPORE, THE SEMIS ARE SET WITH SHARAPOVA VERSUS KVITOVA, AND RADWANSKA TO PLAY MUGURUZA

epa05003014 Garbine Muguruza of Spain in action against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their match in the singles round robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2015 held at the indoor stadium in Singapore, 30 October 2015. EPA/WALLACE WOON  |

Thinking the unthinkable? Not if you’re Lucie Safarova! By Global Chick

 

After the rollercoaster of emotion yesterday as Maria Sharapova closed the curtain on Flavia Pennetta’s career, it was down to the business of concluding the final round robin sessions.

 

Our first match was a first time meeting between the enigmatic Garbiñe Muguruza and 2011 champion Petra Kvitova. Both hefty servers, and clobberers of the fluffy green orb (or is it yellow?) of goodness, we settled down for the match, perhaps trying to ignore the tetris diagram of scenarios of doom (or indeed triumph, depending on your point of view).

 

For Muguruza it was simple – she needed just one set to qualify, and she was the one putting the Czech under pressure, rewarded by a break only to hand it straight back.

 

The highest seed remaining was having none of it as she battled back again and despite some thunderous saving to get out of jail free from Kvitova, it was the No. 2 seed who took the first set 6-4.

 

We all know sharing is caring as they proceeded to break here, there and quite frankly everywhere, as Kvitova toiled to stay in contention. It was working too – bit by bit she wore down Muguruza who uncharacteristically took a bit of a walk off the map, giving Kvitova a chance to level 6-4.

 

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in action against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during their match in the singles round robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2015 held at the indoor stadium in Singapore, 30 October 2015. EPA/WALLACE WOON

Once more we headed for the colourful scenarios as laid out by the abacus handlers in the office, it meant that Kvitova now had a fighting chance and she came out the brighter, but that earlier unraveling from the Spaniard seemed to be harnessing her inner boomerang as she just coming back at the Czech.

 

Just getting the crucial break was not enough as the spinning between match points and break points was making us feel quite queasy. It needed nerves of steel to finally convert on the fourth match point – 6-4 4-6 7-5.

 

Mark our words – in the years to come when the likes of Sharapova and Serena are gone we will be looking for the new heroine of the tour and we might just have it in Muguruza. She is charming, quietly confident and the way she says ‘nervious’ is too adorable for words. Moreover she has that ‘hunger’ that Chris Evert was talking about when she talked to the media as one of the WTA Finals Ambassadors.

 

She told the media that she hoped she had a little of the charisma that draws Nadal in to the ATP crowds but it is a weary road for the end of the year for her as she is now in the frame for the semi-finals of both the singles and the doubles.

 

She said: “I went to the court thinking that I want to win the match, not only a set or just to qualify. I went there like, No Garbine, go on the court and ‑‑ if you go on the court you have to go and win, not to be half/half.

 

“So that’s what I did. I had my good and bad moments, but I’m just happy that I’ve been through.”

 

But it wasn’t over yet for Kvitova who was depending on fellow countrywoman Lucie Safarova to bundle Angelique Kerber out in straight sets, and the German needing just one set to advance.

 

Kvitova said: “I think for me it’s first time in kind of this situation, so it’s kind of new for me. Of course I’m cheering for Lucie, but, I mean, I did everything what I could today. Really didn’t happen. I left everything so I’m okay.

 

“Still have a Fed Cup final ahead, which is interesting and I’m really looking forward to do that. The main goal is be prepared and healthy for the next season.”

 

She might have needed to put those thoughts on ice as Safarova came out the better of three consecutive breaks of serve, and stayed ahead, finally coverting her third set point in total to put Kvitova not quite in the driving seat, but somewhere in the vicinity of the driveway, at any rate.

 

Out of somewhere, Safarova pulled out the match of the tournament for her. Remember she was struck down with a bacterial infection that hospitalised her and caused her to miss the entire Asian swing. Her comeback was stilted to say the least and she slid into her slot here at the last minute, so for her to confound and reduce Kerber to passive play is a testament to her fighting spirit. Not to mention a bit of a warning card to the Russians who will be heading to Prague shortly for the Fed Cup final.

 

So we are set for the semi-finals – former champions (Sharapova v Kvitova) and former Wimbledon finalists (Radwanska v Muguruza) – fasten those seat belts.

 

Editors Note : Global Chick is @ Raffles finally enjoying her “Singapore Slings” with Tommy who has waited all week …. She is in for a really fine TIME with one if the truly fine and elegant guys ever.

 

Singapore Sling

 

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