In the second of yesterday’s round-robin matches at the WTA Finals in Singapore, it was the 2016 French Open champion, Garbińe Muguruza of Spain who took on the 2016 US Open finalist, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

Going into the match, there was not much separating the two players, other than a centimetre in height (both are six foot tall), Pliskova is a couple of months older than Muguruza and one ranking position.

Both ladies possess powerful serves and both have defeated former World No. 1, Serena Williams in Grand Slam tournaments this year.

Pliskova was first to strike. She blasted five aces past Muguruza in the first set and combined with winning 81% of her first serve points and breaking the Muguruza serve twice, she quickly found herself one set up.

Pliskova carried the momentum over into the second set, but the Spaniard, who found some form, soon fought her way back. Pliskova managed to force a tie-break, which Muguruza then went on to win and with it the second set.

The boost in confidence was what Muguruza needed and soon found herself up 4-0 up in the third set, with Pliskova looking visibly tired. But the tide turned in the lengthy sixth game, when Pliskova dug deep and managed to break the Muguruza serve. From then on, Pliskova fought back and despite being a match point down, came out victorious with a 6-2 7-6(4) 7-5 win.

Image courtesy of the WTA