Muguruza ends long wait, beats Krejcikova in Dubai final

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 14, (AP): Garbiñe Muguruza ended her almost two-year wait for a title with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win against Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Dubai Championships. “It means a lot,” the ninth-seeded Muguruza said, “it’s never easy to win.” In her third attempt at a title this season, the former No. 1 hit seven aces and saved seven of the nine break points she faced to beat Czech doubles specialist Krejcikova. It’s the 27-year-old Spanish player’s first title since winning in Monterrey in April 2019.

Muguruza lost the Qatar Open final last week to Petra Kvitova and the Yarra Valley Classic final last month to Ash Barty. Overall, it’s Muguruza’s eighth career singles title, including two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017. Krejcikova’s only previous singles final was a 2017 loss to Kiki Bertens in Nuremberg, Germany. In Doha, Qatar, Nikoloz Basilashvili downed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the final of the Qatar Open for his fourth ATP title. The Georgian earned the first two break points at 3-2 in the second set, and he took his chance before going on to close out the match in 90 minutes.

Basilashvili had only won two matches from his previous 16 going into the tournament, but he saved a match point to defeat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. “I had zero expectations, for sure, to win (the) tournament,” said Basilashvili, who has now won his last four finals. Bautista Agut ended Andrey Rublev’s title defense in the semifinals. “Hopefully I come back next year and try to get the title again,” the 13th-ranked Spanish player said.

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