Garbiñe Muguruza collapses before Riske in his Indian Wells debut

First Amendment: 03/12/2022 – 02:40Last update: 03/12/2022 – 02:38

Number 53 in the world rankings, Risk beat Muguruza (9) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 33 minutes of play at Indian Wells, the second WTA 1000 Championship of the season.

The Caracas-born tennis player initially dominated this match in the second round by taking the first set in white and leading 3-0 in the second.

Since then, Muguruza’s match has been banned and Riske’s eight-game winning streak turned the score and propelled her to a stunning win.

“After the first set, it literally couldn’t be worse,” Risk admitted later. “But I knew if I got in a little bit (into the game) I would have my chances.”

Just like last year, Muguruza produced one of the first upsets at Indian Wells when he fell again on his debut.

The former world number one adds another disappointment in a difficult start to the season, as she fell in the second round of the Australian Open and then in the quarter-finals of the Doha Championship.

Champion Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, Muguruza revitalized her record in 2021 after a two-year drought with victories in Dubai and Chicago and the WTA Finals in Guadalajara.

Separation in the desert

On Friday, Muguruza started the match strong, sealing the first set in love in just 24 minutes.

With her power in serving, the former world number one earned an 81% first serve win and gave no break opportunities to Risky, who watched Muguruza’s show helplessly.

The women from Caracas kept their pace at the start of the second set, taking a 3-0 lead and looking to lead to a quiet win.

At that moment, success and fortune changed, and Riske began to convert hard hits and Muguruza to make non-coercive mistakes.

The American, who has conceded nine in a row, racked up eight in a row to frustrate Conchita Martinez, Muguruza’s coach.

The desert Indian Wells fans, having overcome their disbelief, also began to push the local player back.

Muguruza made one last attempt to turn things around by breaking Riske in Game 4, and celebrated with a shriek of anger, but the American was already on the verge of winning.

“The crowd was amazing. The atmosphere was great,” said Risk, a three-time WTA title winner.

The last time the two players met, Risk, 31, knocked out Muguruza from the 2019 US Open in the first round.

He will face the American in the third round of Indian Wells, the winner of the cross between the American Madison Keys, ranked 29th in the WTA, and Japan’s Misaki Doi (95th place).

© 2022 AFP