Muguruza wins in Chicago

Final in Chicago.

2021 Chicago Fall Tennis Classic - a WTA 500 tournament, on Hard, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 27 September - 3 October 2021.

No defending champion:

This is a new tournament on the WTA calendar.

Final:

Ons Jabeur (6) (Tunisia) v Garbiñe Muguruza (2) (Spain)

The two meetings between the pair before this final were split 1-1, Jabeur winning the most recent encounter - a three set third round win at Wimbledon this year.

This was the 16th final for Muguruza, and she had already won eight titles, including two majors and one title this year - Dubai in March.

This was the fourth final for Jabeur, and the second for 2021. One this year brought Jabeur the only title of her career before this final - Birmingham in June.

Serve was held early, although Jabeur was taken to deuce twice in the opening game.

Jabeur then broke Muguruza to love in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.

After Jabeur consolidated for 4-1, the next two games were held to love and Jabeur was a game away from the set.

Muguruza forced Jabeur to serve for it at 5-3. She did this comfortably and led 6-3.

From 30-0 in the opening game of set two, Muguruza found a way to be broken, and Jabeur was ahead by a set and a break.

Muguruza returned the favour and it was 1-1.

In the fourth game, it was virtual déjà vu. Jabeur broke Muguruza as she had done at the same point in set one, and the Tunisian took a 3-2 advantage.

This time, however, Muguruza immediately struck back. 3-3.

The second seed continued her surge by breaking again to lead 5-3. Serving for the set, Muguruza raced to 40-0, but saw three set points disappear.

Jabeur then had a break point from nowhere which was saved. A fourth set point was saved, as was a second break point. 

Finally, Muguruza converted a fifth set point to level the match 3-6 6-3.

Muguruza won the first eight points of the decider, including a break of Jabeur in the opening game. The Spanish serve was on song, and forehand winners were coming off the racquet almost at will.

The streak of points for Muguruza extended to ten and Jabeur was broken again in the third game - she was in danger of falling off the cliff. 3-0 to Muguruza.

Jabeur fought back hard, taking Muguruza twice to deuce in game four, but the Spaniard held firm, and extended the lead to 4-0.

Jabeur couldn’t convert a game point in the next game and ultimately Muguruza pounced to break and moved to within a game of the title.

Serving for the match at 5-0, Muguruza hit a superb winning lob and another forehand winner at the net. Eventually she was at 40-15 with two match points. Jabeur failed to put a return in play and the title was going to Spain. 

Garbiñe Muguruza won the match 3-6 6-3 6-0. 

Title number two for 2021, which helped move her up to #6 in the WTA Race.