GARBINE NAILS IT
Spaniard bags title to deny Simona World No 1 spot
WIMBLEDON champion Garbine Muguruza humbled second-ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 in Sunday’s final of the WTA Cincinnati Open, denying the Romanian the World No 1 spot in the process.
Sixth-seeded Spaniard Garbine needed only 56 minutes to capture her second title of the year and her first in a US event, taking the US$522,450 (RM2.24 million) top prize in the last major US Open tuneup.
“The American swing was never going my way,” Garbine said. “Finally, this year, I improved that.”
It marked the third loss of the year for Simona when she was playing for the top ranking, also falling in the French Open final against Jelena Ostapenko and the Wimbledon quarterfinal against Johanna Konta, each time after taking the first set.
“Maybe I feel the pressure and I don’t realise it,” Simona said. “Maybe I just played bad.”
Simona’s coach, Darren Cahill, told ESPN the French Open loss still haunts her, saying: “There’s still a little leftover residue from Paris. It takes some time to get over that.”
Simona apologised to spectators after the embarrassing defeat, thanking them for support “even if I played so bad and Garbine a played so well.”
“It was a big shame to lose 6-1, 6-0 in the final,” Simona said. “I got dominated. I can’t control anymore the points. That’s why I got down in my confidence.”
Garbine admitted after the lopsided win: “I feel a little bit bad. But I want to be in her position. I wanted to win. What can I do?”
Czech Karolina Pliskova, a semi-final loser to Garbine, will remain World No 1 by a five-point margin over Halep.
“It’s still there. I still have a chance,” Simona said. “Maybe one day I will be there.”
Serena Williams had been No 1 before her pregnancy break began earlier this year.
Garbine, who jumps to third in yesterday’s rankings, becomes a favourite to capture a third career Grand Slam crown in Flushing Meadows after taking Wimbledon and last year’s French Open.
“I’m happy people see me as a favourite but it not always happens that you win a tournament and then go ahead and win a Grand Slam,” Garbine said. “I’m happy to have the confidence. Beats not having it.”
Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov captured his seventh and biggest career title on Sunday, defeating Australia's Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 to win the ATP Cincinnati Masters and boost his confidence for the US Open.
"In the big picture, it means a lot to me," Dimitrov said. “I’m pretty confident after that win. This is what I’ve been practising for. It's my biggest win so far.
“I’m going to enjoy it for a day or two and then it’s back to the routine and prepare for the US Open.” AFP