Muguruza makes light work of Safarova

Despite a good reaction by the Czech, who breaks Muguruza for the first time in the match in the first games of the second set, the Spaniard breaks back in the sixth game and leads the match to the tie-break: here Muguruza plays at a high-level, playing again aggressive to get two decisive mini-breaks who allows her to be up 3-0. I’m very excited. I’m kind of rookie.

After claiming a maiden WTA title in Hobart previous year, Muguruza’s brilliant run at Wimbledon was halted by Williams in the final, and the tall Spaniard claimed the China Open crown this month to climb to number four in the world rankings.

“I couldn’t really do what I wanted”. “She probably has an edge right now”. I think today I played a very good match also.

“I just went here and maybe … she hasn’t played for maybe couple of weeks”. Safarova would go on to reach the final at Roland Garros, losing to Serena Williams.

Petra Kvitova is hoping her bout with glandular fever does not hinder her performance at the WTA Finals this week in Singapore.

I’m not feeling too bad and I certainly hope to do better than previous year, when I lost two of my three round-robin matches.

Mattek-Sands and Safarova – who refer to themselves as Team Bucie, combining their first names into one – will take on Suarez Navarro and Muguruza on Sunday, while Hingis and Mirza will open their campaign on Monday.

However, 2011 victor Kvitova responded positively in the second set and even had two set points to force a decider, but she was unable to convert either of them. She saved the first with a dazzling running forehand victor down the line that almost went around the net post and the second on a Safarova error, eventually scraping out a hold for 5-4. “I was fighting and concentrating very much”.

We have the coaches to hit with as well but before the matches I think it’s just time to play a few points and get the final touches from the coaches.

The Spaniard said it is “possible” the tennis fraternity and fans will view her as the next big thing in tennis, if she wins in Singapore. Reaching the Finals is one of my goals every year and I know what it feels like to end the season on a high after winning on my debut in 2011. “For sure, it’s one of my objectives to be up there and stay there”.