Garbine Muguruza advanced to the championship match of the WTA Finals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow Spaniard Paula Badosa in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday.

Muguruza, who will end the year ranked world number three, will face Estonian Anett Kontaveit in Wednesday's final.

Kontaveit downed Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the second semifinal. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In their first career meeting, Muguruza's superior firepower put Badosa on the back foot from the outset and she broke the Indian Wells champion for a second time with a forehand winner to take the first set.

Badosa's frustration boiled over during the change over and she was unable to hold serve in the lengthy second game of the second set, giving the former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion another early break.

Muguruza fended off Badosa's three break point chances in an 11-minute third game to take a 3-0 lead and rolled on from there, firing an ace to go up 5-2 and sealing the win when Badosa hit a backhand into the net on match point.

Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa makes a return. Photo: Reuters
ADVERTISEMENT

"I think it's the best match that I played so far here in Guadalajara," Muguruza said.

"It was a tough match facing another Spaniard in the semifinals of a Masters. Actually the first time we've encountered together ... so it was tricky.

"But I'm very happy that I got the win."

ADVERTISEMENT
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.