The Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza debuted in the Dubai tournament with a hard-fought victory against the young American Catherine Bellis, 41 in the WTA ranking, and will face in the second round with the French Caroline García, whom she defeated a week ago in Doha quarters.
Muguruza, who successfully dominated the first set, complicated his future in the competition in an irregular second set in which, after dominating 3-0, he went down 5-4, forcing him to resort to his best tennis to save a game that lasted for an hour and 40 minutes.
Although she began losing her service in the first game of a clash whose start was delayed until after midnight, the player born in Caracas – second seeded – entered the match and reacted quickly to, after chaining four consecutive games, leave on track the first set.
With more difficulties than the scoreboard reflected, the world number three had several opportunities to go up to 5-1, although Bellis resisted and extended the opening set to 6-3 after just over 40 minutes of play.
The second set began with two consecutive ‘breaks’ favorable to the Spanish that allowed her to leave with a 3-0 that seemed definitive, although then came the reaction of the player born in San Francisco, who took advantage of the doubts and the accumulation of errors unforced from his rival and managed to get 5-4.
Muguruza then resorted to his best shots and knew how to solve the situation, closing the set and the match with a 7-5 that allows him to pass to the second round. EFE
Muguruza, who successfully dominated the first set, complicated his future in the competition in an irregular second set in which, after dominating 3-0, he went down 5-4, forcing him to resort to his best tennis to save a game that lasted for an hour and 40 minutes.
Although she began losing her service in the first game of a clash whose start was delayed until after midnight, the player born in Caracas – second seeded – entered the match and reacted quickly to, after chaining four consecutive games, leave on track the first set.
With more difficulties than the scoreboard reflected, the world number three had several opportunities to go up to 5-1, although Bellis resisted and extended the opening set to 6-3 after just over 40 minutes of play.
The second set began with two consecutive ‘breaks’ favorable to the Spanish that allowed her to leave with a 3-0 that seemed definitive, although then came the reaction of the player born in San Francisco, who took advantage of the doubts and the accumulation of errors unforced from his rival and managed to get 5-4.
Muguruza then resorted to his best shots and knew how to solve the situation, closing the set and the match with a 7-5 that allows him to pass to the second round. EFE