Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza claimed a first WTA title in almost two years after winning the Dubai Championships.
Muguruza beat Czech Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 and claimed her first title since victory in Monterrey in April 2019.
The first set was a closely fought affair with Muguruza saving a set point before taking it 8-6 in the tiebreak.
“It means a lot. It’s never easy to win titles,” said Muguruza. “I’m excited that it happened now after a few finals that didn’t go my way. It was a nice relief. It was such a tight match. It could have gone either way. I had to work hard for it.”
Second title win for Spain
In Mexico, meanwhile, Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to win the Abierto Zapopan title
Tormo’s victory was her first WTA title, winning in straight sets, 6-2 7-5. Bouchard is without a title since victory in 2014.
Nadal to lose no.2 ranking
On the ATP tour, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 to win the Open 13 Provence title in France.
Medvedev will overtake Rafael Nadal to move to number two in the men’s rankings today. He hit 13 aces on the way to victory.
Herbert, who beat Kei Nishikori and Stefanos Tsitsipas (Nadal’s nemesis in the Australian Open) on the way to the final, was aiming for his first ATP singles title in his fourth final. However, it was not to be, and Medvedev now has 10 titles under his belt.