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Garbine Muguruza 2021
Tennis News, WTA Tennis Players

‘Doesn’t matter if you play pretty or ugly’, says Garbine Muguruza after battling past Kalinskaya


World No. 13 Garbine Muguruza reached the fourth round of the Miami Open after a physical battle against wildcard Anna Kalinskaya.

The 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory – which lasted two hours and 41 minutes – extended the Spaniard’s tour-leading win tally to 20 this year.

The 27-year-old had to come from a set down after a single break at 3-3 was enough for her 22-year-old Russian opponent to edge the opening set. Muguruza leveled the match after breaking for 5-3 and serving the second set out, after the pair had exchanged breaks.

The two-time Grand Slam winner then recovered from 0-3 down in the decider, crucially holding for 3-3 after a 17-point game. She then broke for 5-4 and converted her fourth match point to conclude a 13-point game and see off the talented 115th-ranked Kalinskaya.

“I brought my fighting spirit and I could match the level of fighting against Anna, and very happy to go through these tough matches,” Muguruza said in her post-match press conference.

“Doesn’t matter if you play pretty or you play ugly, but you stay strong and you go through these rounds. That gives me an opportunity to feel better and to have another chance.

“It was a very physical match, was a long match and a lot of ups and downs. It was tough conditions with wind, so it was a lot about staying strong, staying strong in important moments.

“At the end I had many match points and I didn’t convert them, but they are still match points.

“So I have to stay calm and say, ‘Hey, I might not have won but I’m still 5-4 serving, right? So why should I be sad? I will try to get the next opportunity.’ These are the key moments, and with experience you learn a little bit more how to handle them.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.