Petra Kvitova’s dominance over Garbine Muguruza is intact as she defeated the Spaniard once again in Doha to win her second Qatar Total Open on Saturday.
Yesterday’s 6-4, 6-1 win at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex was the two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova’s fifth straight win over Muguruza in six matches. While the Spaniard won their first meeting, the Czech has managed to completely flip the script in their rivalry since. It was a rematch of a superb 2018 final, but this time she needed an hour less and a set fewer to dismiss Muguruza in gusty conditions.
Comparing her two triumphs in Doha, Kvitova said, “It is different, for sure.”
Three years ago, the Czech had needed two hours and 16 minutes to down Muguruza in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 thriller and claim her first Doha trophy.
Saturday, Kvitova slammed 11 winners to 18 unforced errors for a victory in just 66 minutes.
“The 2018 win was very tiring. I was totally exhausted. I was coming from St. Petersburg playing the Fed Cup, playing Doha, and I remember the semifinal and final was just unbelievably tough. I played pretty long, beating Caroline (Wozniacki) in the third set and same, Garbine in the final. This one is a little bit different, I would say. It feels different, because today the conditions were very, very tough compared to that year, so it was smoother,” the 30-year-old said.
The former world No. 1 was at her aggressive best against the Spaniard and did not allow her opponent to play her game. Muguruza was also let down by her serve. Although she put in 78% of her first serves, she only won 45% of those points.
In-form Muguruza, who was well rested before the final after her semi-final opponent Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to a back injury, had her opportunities at the start of each set, but she was unable to build on either opening.
The 27-year-old Spaniard garnered the first break points of the first set in the third game, and captured the Kvitova serve for the only time to kick off the second set. Consecutive double faults handed the break back immediately in the second set, and overall the former World No.1’s performance was too riddled with mistakes as her unforced error tally mounted to 27. This was particularly evident on her backhand wing, usually Muguruza’s stronger weapon, which repeatedly dipped just long or wide.
In contrast, Kvitova went from strength to strength after successfully navigating the danger zone. The two-time Wimbledon champion’s strategy was more effective, clubbing the ball through the middle and handcuffing Muguruza with depth and pace rather than going for lines. Kvitova was also able to up her focus when she needed to, saving six out of seven break points.
As the finishing line hovered into view, Kvitova stepped on the pedal with more spectacular tennis, conjuring up a pair of breathtaking winners after seemingly being out of the point as she reeled off the last six games of the match.
Kvitova also became the player with the most number of match wins in Doha. She’s won 20 matches at the Qatar Total Open, breaking the previously-held record of 19 wins – of two-time former finalist Svetlana Kuznetsova and Caroline Wozniacki.
This was Kvitova’s 28th career title in 38 finals. Kvitova also improved her clean-sheet of never having lost a match after having won the first set to 32-0
Both players were seeking to snap an uncharacteristic title drought. Kvitova had not won a tournament since Stuttgart 2019, and had lost three of her last four finals — including in Doha last year to Aryna Sabalenka. But yesterday’s result reaffirms Kvitova’s overall dominance in title matches, with her career record in them now 28-10.
The two-time major champion Muguruza has won at least two matches in 11 of her past 12 tournaments, dating back to the start of 2020. This week marked her third final in that span, and second of this season already following February's Yarra Valley Classic.
The loss, though, means that Muguruza is still seeking her first trophy since Monterrey 2019, and the last time she was victorious at 500/Premier level or higher was in winning Cincinnati 2017.
“I couldn’t find really my game today. I think Petra also played very well today from the baseline. It really wasn’t my day, I guess,” Muguruza said.
Muguruza said her game has no impact of missing the semi-final due to walkover.
“No, I don’t think it affected me. I actually took the opportunity to recover a little bit after the tough matches that I had. I just felt that the condition were very different today.
“I think it’ was a very good week. Except final. I felt like my level was good, my game was good. So I’m taking a lot of positives even though I’m not holding the trophy,” she said.
