Muguruza puts on brave face
dubai — Losing a semifinal after having three match points could be the most painful thing in tennis.
Garbine Muguruza did put on a brave face at the press conference, after having lost the 2-hour-33minute last-four match 3-6 7-6 (13/11) 6-1 to the gifted Russian youngster Daria Kasatkina at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday.
But the reigning Wimbledon champion admitted that it wasn’t easy for her to play against an opponent who brings her best game at crunch moments.
“Well, I think I had to play them better. But I think, you know, she was not missing a lot. She was inspired when she was under pressure,” the Spaniard said. “I had to all of a sudden hit an incredible shot or a winner or something like that to kind of break the rally.” This was Muguruza’s first defeat against the gutsy Russian in three matches that they have played so far.
Their previous battle at the Brisbane International last year was also a three-set epic, but it was Muguruza who had the last laugh that night. Kasatkina avenged the Brisbane defeat in some style on Friday, coming from a break down in the second set after losing the first, then saving three match points in the nerve-wrecking 24-point tiebreak before completely destroying the two-time Grand Slam winner in the third set.
“I think she likes to play with the top players. I think she feels a little bit like nothing to lose. I’ve been checking her results. When she has to play a top player, she normally always surprises. I think today she really was playing good and came back,” the world number three said. The 24-year-old Spaniard said losing match points is always a bitter pill to swallow.
“Well, you’re very upset normally when you lose a match that you had match points because I’m not in the final, and she is. It’s very disappointing,” she said.
“But I was there. I was expecting a very difficult match. That was an option that I expected. Like you said, the first one went my side, this one her side. I’m looking forward to the third one.”
Overall, Muguruza was happy with her run to the semifinal in Dubai after having finished runner-up to Petra Kvitova in Doha last week. “My game was fine. But I feel I really struggled physically because I’ve been playing so many matches in a row. Today was very physical,” she said.
“At the third set I really noticed it because my legs were starting to get very tired. I think all the accumulation came up a little bit.
“But overall, I think it’s very positive because I managed to play a lot of matches, good ones, final and semifinal. I think it’s two great weeks. “I’m happy to leave Dubai with the feeling that I gave everything I had.”
Muguruza, who famously beat Serena Williams in straight sets for her first Grand Slam title in the 2016 French Open final, then said what Kasatkina needed to do in order to win the biggest trophies in the game.
“Well, she has to play all the time like that. I feel that’s the key with all these young, talented players. You have to really prove week after week when you face the tough opponents you’re going to win. That’s actually what she has to do,” Muguruza said.
“I think she has a style of game that she’s far back, she makes you work a lot for the point. I think she likes to play with the top players. She doesn’t feel a lot of pressure. I’ve been checking her results. Always when she plays a top player, she plays very well.”