Former World No. 1 Garbine Muguruza competed at the Qatar Open 2021. The Spanish player was sailing smoothly until she lost in the final. The fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova handed the 27-year-old her defeat in straight sets. The match ended after 63 minutes, and the Spaniard won just three games in the entire match. 

Garbine Muguruza felt the strength of her opponent, who was hitting the ball purely and was able to find the corners of the court with ease. Muguruza felt the match slipped away during the initial stages. The former French Open champion has fared poorly during the business end of the recent tournaments.

Garbine Muguruza: “Was behind on the scoreboard very fast”

Reflecting on her disappointing loss at the Qatar Open, the Spanish star stated, “It is difficult to play against her because she has very good shots. I have not felt well from the beginning. My shots did not mark the dominance of the point and I was behind on the scoreboard very fast. Of all the games I have played this week, it has been the worst in terms of quality. It is true that the lower-quality matches are coming in the final rounds.”

During the prior rounds, Garbine emerged victorious over young talents like the Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka and the Greek athlete Maria Sakkari. In the quarterfinal, she got a walkover from Victoria Azarenka, who withdrew due to a back injury.

The next stop for the Spaniard will be at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, where she competes against the likes of the three-time champion Elina Svitolina, and the defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek.  

Prior to the Qatar Open, Muguruza competed at the Australian Open 2021. She lost in the fourth round to eventual champion Naomi Osaka. Before that, she was the finalist at the Yarra Valley Classic. 

Also Read: Petra Kvitova Dispatches Garbine Muguruza in 63 Minutes to Collect Her First Title in 2 Years at WTA Doha 2021