Muguruza Stops Kontaveit, Makes Last 4 At WTA Finals; Sakkari v Sabalenka For Last Spot

The last four at the WTA Finals is taking shape. Yesterday, Garbine Muguruza qualified for the semifinals with a big win over the red-hot Anett Kontaveit, topping the Estonian 6-4, 6-4.

Kontaveit had won her last 12 matches and 28 of her last 30, but the Spaniard, who needed to win to stay alive in the event, had the motivation and ultimately the game.

“Today was a match that was kind of everything or nothing,” Muguruza said. “Starting the round-robin with a loss, it was never good. To finally get two wins and qualify was amazing. Today I think I played the best match out of the three. Cutting this long run from Anett, I was like, Okay, is it going to be me the one to stop her?”

Kontaveit still wins the group and will await her semifinal opponent.

“I think Garbine played a great match,” Kontaveit said. “She was very aggressive, just very on it from the first point. I think I made way too many unforced errors. I mean, I don’t think I played a very good match. I just wish I could have done a better job today.”

Muguruza will meet countrywoman Paula Badosa in the semifinals on Tuesday, assuring a Spanish woman will be in the final.

“It’s amazing there are four players left and two of them are Spaniards,” said Muguruza. “That just shows that Spain has a great level of tennis and a great school. It’s going to be a fun match. It’s like you said, historical. Hopefully the crowd is going to be on the match. Whoever plays better is going to get the final.”

Earlier, Karolina Pliskova came from a set and 4-2 down to deny countrywoman Barbora Krejcikova 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

“So I just fought hard to give myself a chance, at least to wait, maybe she’s going to miss a couple, because she didn’t really miss anything the first set. It actually happened, of course quite late. But happy I stayed in there and just waited for the chance,” Pliskova said.

Pliskova, who finished 2-1, was later eliminated from the event when Muguruza won.

Today, the tournament will determine who will meet Kontaveit. It will be either Maria Sakkari or Aryna Sabalenka with the winner moving on. Sabalenka has won four of five from the Greek.

In a dead match, Iga Swiatek takes on Badosa for WTA ranking points and prize money. Badosa has won her last eight matches.

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