Muguruza, Ostpenko win, Garcia stuns Halep

Two-time Doha finalist Garbine Muguruza of Spain and last week’s Dubai winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia on Monday posted commanding wins at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open where former champion Simona Halep checked out of the tournament after a sloppy performance.

Muguruza, who lost last year’s final and in 2018, on Monday started slow but wasted little time to beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (4), 6-1 in 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Champion in Dubai on Saturday, Ostapenko yesterday underlined her intentions when she crushed France Oceane Dodin in straight sets. The 24-year-old Latvian was in total command as she carved out an impressive 6-4, 6-2 in in 1 hour and 23 minutes.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic yesterday showed the door to Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-1 in 56 minutes. A two-time winner in Doha, Kvitova fired three aces as she wrapped up the match with a total of five service breaks – two in the first set and three in the second - against an opponent who reached the semi-finals at St Petersburg Open just 10 days ago.

Muguruza lost her serve in game two but the tall two-time Grand Slam champion hit back in game seven when she broke Cirstea to force the first set into a tie-breaker. With both tied a 3-all in the tie-breaker, Muguruza picked up two points for a 5-3 cushion and then quickly closed out the set by winning the tie-breaker at 7-4. In the second set, Muguruza was unstopabble as she broke Cirstea in games two, four and six to seal her win with ease.

“It is a very good start in Doha. I started slow as she started 100 percent,” Muguruza said. “It took me a lot of effort to catch up. I think that first set was the key,” she added.

When asked if she has to change tactics mid-match, Muguruza said: “Yes, a little bit. I have so many times in these situations. But I had to come back and bring back better energy and better attitude and my game.”

“It was amazing winning the 2021 Season-Ending Championships. I am finding my level, the year’s long so I am just very excited at that great victory. I want to keep playing well.

“I have been here so many times and lost two finals. I was so close to holding the trophy but I looking forward, one day, take it home,” Muguruza said.

Ostapenko, seeded No.15 in Doha, fired eight aces in a performance that stuttered a little at the start of the match when Dodin jumped to a 3-0 scoreline. Ostapenko, who lost the Qatar final to Carla Suarez Navarro in 2016, picked up the pieces quickly to nail the next four games. Ostapenko broke Dodin in games four, eight and 10 to take the first set at 6-4.

Three more service breaks – in games four, six and eight – helped the Latvian kick off her Doha campaign with a meaningful show as she won the second set 6-2.



Making only her second main draw appearance, Tereza Martinocova of the Czech Republic yesterday delivered a memorable performance to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the three grueling sets. The 27-year-old Prague resident won 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (5) in three hours and two minutes.

In another shock result, Caroline Garcia of France eased past former champion Halep in straight sets. Garcia won 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour and 34 minutes unleashing five aces along the way.

After both players held their serve, Garcia broke Halep in game 10 to take the first set. With momentum on her side, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman broke Halep – the 2014 Qatar champion – once in game two of the second set.

It was Garcia’s second win over Halep since 2017. Yesterday’s win over Halep, ranked 27 in the world, is her second against a top-30 player in the new season. Last month Garcia beat Jessica Pegula in Sydney when she was ranked 22.

"It was a very good match on my part. It was very tricky with the wind and cold weather ... and against Simona, it's always a great battle against her," Garcia said after her straight-set win.

"Today, I was very happy to stay very aggressive and positive every point. She had a good week in Dubai last week and in Australia as well, so she's full of confidence.

“I didn't win a lot of matches at the beginning of the year; it was kind of complicated for me, but every match is a match and you have to fight from the first point to the last one. I did it very good today and I'm very pleased with my performance,” Garcia said.

"I'm working every day and hopefully I can get some more wins, more confidence and play better. I'm very pleased to be able to come back tomorrow,” she added.