While one made it with a bit of luck, or plain bad luck from the perspective of her semifinal opponent, the other progressed with a fine win against a tough opponent. However, that takes nothing away from the high-stakes battle as Garbine Muguruza plays Petra Kvitova in the WTA Qatar Open final later on Saturday.

The two-time Grand Slam champion got a walkover into the title clash after World Number 14 Victoria Azarenka, who was on a good run of form going into the semifinal, pulled out minutes ahead of the clash citing a back problem.

Garbine Muguruza got a walkover into final after Victoria Azarenka pulled out, Petra Kvitova cruised past Jessica Pegula in SF

It’s fair to say the Spaniard wasn’t guaranteed passage to the final as she was tied 2-2 with the two-time Australian Open champion ahead of the last-four clash.

That being said, Muguruza is a deserving finalist as she out-skilled the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari on the way to sealing her berth in the final.

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Kvitova, who is currently at 10th in the WTA singles rankings, will also be going into the title showdown high on adrenaline and with a world of confidence after crushing American Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the semifinals.

While it may not tilt the scales in favor of either player, one factor that ought not to be missed while previewing the big clash is that Muguruza, on account of Azarenka’s pullout, would have had an extra day to rest and recover from her quarter-final win over Sakkari.

Petra Kvitova holds 4-1 head-to-head lead over Garbine Muguruza going into final

So, does an extra day of rest put the Spaniard ahead in the big final? Possibly not.

But one suspects Muguruza would be the fresher of the two players ahead of the finale.

However, since Kvitova made fairly short work of Pegula in the semis and knows what’s at stake, she will be up for the big clash too.

And, it’s Kvitova who has the proverbial wood over the Spaniard going into the final.

The Czech star holds a clear and commanding 4-1 lead over Muguruza in five head-to-head battles with the latter.

What’s more, their last hard-court meeting came in the final of this very tournament in 2018 and the current World Number 16 lost in three sets.

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So, will it be 5-1 for Kvitova or will Muguruza avenge her 2018 loss? Wait till the battle unfolds tonight.