Tuesday 28 January 2020

AO - Day 8 - Muguruza v Bertens

Unseeded Garbiñe Muguruza met ninth seeded Kiki Bertens on RLA on Day Eight, 2020 AO for a place in the quarter finals.

The first two games were not the finest in terms of pure tennis, Muguruza broken in her opening venture, and Bertens having no more success when at the line.
Muguruza improved her output, and held serve for 2-1, an ace included. Two Bertens forehand winners overshadowed a double fault and she levelled at 2-2.

After a Spanish love game, Bertens found herself in trouble after a trio of errors. One of the two break points was saved, but a wayward backhand gave Muguruza a 4-2 edge.
Muguruza was serving well, and an ace was supported by a winning forehand to secure a 5-2 lead. 
After Bertens held comfortably, Muguruza served for the set.

Three big first serves, with no returns landing in play, gave Muguruza three set points. One was saved, but a forced Dutch backhand error ended the set, Muguruza ahead 6-3.

Set two began in strange fashion, both players dropping their opening serves. Bertens was quick to redeem things, a forehand winner kick starting a love game, and giving her a 2-1 lead.
At 2-2, Bertens was assaulted by a barrage of Spanish groundstrokes, her own forehand winner insufficient to counter the power of the shots being fired at her. Dragged to both sides of the court, Bertens was unable to position herself well enough to land enough shots in play and the forced errors left her facing two break points. A double fault gave Muguruza the break and a 3-2 lead.

An ace and forehand winner for Muguruza continued her momentum and she consolidated the service break for the loss of just one point. 4-2. A love game from Bertens kept her close, two delightful drop shots and a forehand winner down the line the highlights.

Muguruza began the eighth game with an ace. A backhand error was a mere blip as she threw in another ace and a service winner to produce two game points. A Bertens mistake saw Muguruza progress to within a game of the quarter finals.
 
Bertens served at 3-5. A Dutch drop shot winner 15-0. Muguruza ran down the next drop shot and put away the forehand 15-15. Bertens missed a forehand 15-30. A Bertens forehand winner 30-30. Backhand netted by Bertens and match point. A backhand way long from Muguruza and deuce. Bertens sent a forehand wide and long. Second match point. A forehand winner was the appropriate way to finish the match for Garbiñe Muguruza who was victorious 6-3 6-3.

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