Day 4 of the WTA Finals saw Fed-Cup teammates Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova battle it out, with the 2011 champion Kvitova claiming victory. Both players had lost their opening matches and needed to win this match, in order to stay alive for the SFs. In the end it was Petra’s better experience at the Finals and her brilliance indoors, which saw her win in 2 tough sets. In the other White group clash, debutant Garbine Muguruza clocked up her 2nd straight win with a straight sets victory over Angie Kerber.
WTA Finals, Singapore: Day 4, White Group
Kvitova bt Safarova: 7-5, 7-5
Petra Kvitova has won the battle of the lefties against good friend and compatriot Lucie Safarova.
The 2011 WTA Finals winner and 2-time Wimbledon Champ, had never lost to her fellow countrywoman, going 7-0 in their h2h.
Safarova has had a breakthrough year, reaching her maiden GS Singles Final at Roland Garros, making her top 10 debut and qualifying for her 1st WTA Finals. (in singles)
However she is yet to master the power and flat-hitting of her Fed-Cup teammate, who battled hard in a tough straight setter.
After an erratic display to the least against Kerber in her first match in the tournament, Kvitova knew she needed a big turnaround and fast.
It was normal service for both divas for the first 10 games, with Kvitova having to save 1bp down 5-4.
Yeah you know what’s coming up next- how many times does a player save a bp, only to break their opponent in the next game. Safarova failed to capitalise on her break opportunity, but Kvitova did not, converting on her 2nd try. This was enough for the 25 year old to wrap up the first set by 7-5.
The 2nd set then couldn’t have started of more differently than the first.
No break-points came until the 10th game in the opener, but in the 2nd set, Safarova broke right at the start for a 3-0 lead.
But lack of matches and a recent struggle with illness and injury and Safarova was unable to keep up her advantage.
By the end of the match, Kvitova would roar back in contention, winning 7 of the next 9 games to seal it by 7-5.
Muguruza bt Kerber: 6-4, 6-4
Spanish No1 Garbine Mugurua’s impressive debut at the WTA Finals continued with another straight sets win.
The rising future star of the women’s game has made headlines this year, with her powerful, raw game and athletic stature.
Her vanquished opponent was Angie Kerber who was returning to the Finals for the first time since 2013, having failed to qualify last year.
Muguruza has been a thorn in the backside of the gritty German this year, beating her 3 out of the 4 times they’ve met this season. Those 3 wins were at big events as well, none other than Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
The entire match basically saw Mugurza sense blood and break at crucial times, to get the victory.
In the opening set, she won 3 games on the trot down 4-3, to take it 6-4.
The second you say- well, she broke at oh so important 9th game, later wrapping it up with a backhand volley by 6-4.
World Tennis News: ATP Basel
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 