In a repeat of the previous season’s Australian Open final, second seeded Sofia Kenin clashes with Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the 2021 WTA Yarra Valley Classic quarterfinal on Friday, February 5, with the match likely to begin at around 2:30 pm local time (4 am BST). Get the live streaming options of this Sofia Kenin v Garbine Muguruza match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Sofia Kenin v Garbine Muguruza Head to Head
There have been two previous meetings between these two players and Kenin leads 2-0 with both having gone to three sets. Their first match came at the China Open in 2019 while the second meeting was the more famous one at the Australian Open 2020 final which Kenin won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to clinch her maiden Grand Slam win.
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Kenin Comes Back from the Dead
Kenin was far from her best, the kind of best which had seen her win one title and a runner-up trophy in Grand Slam tennis, and yet, showed her typical fighting spirit to come through to the quarterfinal.
It was the kind of tennis which was on display after Kenin had been blasted out of the Italian Open last year, double-bagelled by Victoria Azarenka. In almost similar terms, she looked to be headed towards an almost certain defeat when the American fell behind to fellow countryman by a set and 1-4 in the second.
In making a comeback, Kenin suffered her own stutter – while she reeled off four games in a row to serve for the set soon after, nerves struck again as she dropped her serve at 5-4. Not to be outdone, another break of serve followed soon after and this time Kenin didn’t miss serving it out.
With Pegula now mentally deflated, Kenin moved in quickly to establish supremacy in the match by breaking her yet again early in the third set and doubling the advantage soon after.
In the earlier round, Kenin had scraped through to win the first set against Camila Giorgi before her opponent retired from the encounter because of a fitness concern. This followed her quarterfinal exit at the Abu Dhabi Open, but even the wins there weren’t as straightforward as she would have liked – Kirsten Flipkens retiring after being a set up and Yulia Putintseva taking the first set off her.
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Muguruza Proves Too Strong for Pavlyuchenkova
While a third round defeat at the Abu Dhabi Open at the hands of Maria Sakkari was bit of a surprise, Muguruza has quickly put that behind her and started off this new tournament on a positive note.
Following a first round bye, the Spaniard registered a 6-2, 6-0 win over Alison van Uytvanck in the second, and just when one thought Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova could prove to be a more difficult opponent, Mugurza shredded her as well to claim her quarterfinal spot.
Muguruza needed a mere 54 minutes to rout Pavlyuchenkova, winning 6-1, 6-2, breaking her thrice in both sets to finish off the facile victory.
And it’s that kind of a victory which should hold the two-time Grand Slam winner in a good stead going up against a player of Kenin’s pedigree but one who has been struggling for form.
Kenin v Muguruza Prediction and Tip
Kenin holds the head to head edge over her opponent but Muguruza comes into this one with a lot better form and we tip the Spaniard to pull through here.
Tip: Muguruza to win: 4/5 (bet365)
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The 2021 WTA Yarra Valley Classic will be played from January 31. You can watch & bet on the these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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