THRILLING: Garbine Muguruza Pulls Through Anna Kalinskaya Test at Miami Open 2021

It was the night of the round of 32 at the Miami Open 2021 and Garbine Muguruza was up against Anna Kalinskaya. In an epic battle, it was Muguruza who performed brilliantly under pressure, made an incredible comeback, and knocked out Kalinskaya from the competition. With this, the Spaniard has also won herself a ticket to the pre-quarters of the Miami Open 2021. The final scoreline of the match was 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Set-1: Anna Kalinskaya outperforms Garbine Muguruza

Serving first, Garbine Muguruza saved three break-points in the first game itself. Anna Kalinskaya had made her intentions clear right from the beginning that she wouldn’t give an easy victory to Muguruza. The one who served used to win the game until the sixth game, when the scoreline became 3-3.

It was the seventh game that shifted the momentum towards Anna as she broke and took the lead 4-3. She went on to win the subsequent game and was now leading 5-3. The World No. 13 Muguruza tried hard and won the next game, but she couldn’t stop the Russian player.

With the help of a fabulous backhand winner, Kalinskaya secured the set and won it 6-4.

Set-2: Garbine Muguruza strikes back

The second set began in a similar fashion as the Russian managed to win a break-point again. However, she failed to capitalize on it, and that helped Muguruza to establish an early lead. But Kalinskaya equalized the scoreline in the next game itself.

The twist came in the third set when Muguruza broke for the first time in the match. She carried forward her momentum and widened the margin to 4-1 at the end of the fifth game. However, Anna struck back and after winning the subsequent game, she broke in the seventh game to narrow the margin to 4-3.

Muguruza was surely not willing to give this set away at any cost. She broke yet again and then won the next game too to conquer the set 6-3.

Set-3: Muguruza takes away the decider

Serving first, Kalinskaya didn’t let Muguruza take control and won the first game easily. She went on and won four back-to-back points in the subsequent game and broke in order to establish a 2-0 lead over the Spaniard. She even saved a break-point in the next game and was now leading 3-0.

Things were getting really tough for Muguruza. She had to find a way to come back or her Miami dream was over for sure. She fought back and after breaking in the fifth game, equalized the scoreline at 3-3. Interestingly, the sixth game saw six deuces and Kalinskaya failed to win even after earning two break-points.

Kalinskaya finally managed to win the seventh game and took the lead once again. But Muguruza had gained some momentum and leveled the scoreline in the very next game. Muguruza broke yet again and was now just one game away. She didn’t take much time and finished it off in the next game, won the set 6-4 on her fourth match-point, and thus sealed her victory.