The Hobart International was the scene of Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza’s first WTA doubles title last year and the 20 year-old is now one win away from winning her first career WTA singles title here this year.
Muguruza stormed into the 2014 Hobart International singles final by crushing compatriot and fellow qualifier Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-0 6-1 in a semi-final that lasted just 46 minutes today.
The world no.58 was dominant, conceding just three points in a 16 minute first set.
Muguruza was blasting winners with ease, leaving Cabeza Candela shell-shocked.
The world no. 114, who had beaten Muguruza in two of their three previous meetings, finally held serve in the ninth game to get on the scoreboard. But it was all she could manage, with Muguruza continuing to dictate play and wrapping up the match by winning the final four games.
“I think it was close to my best tennis,” Muguruza said.
It continues Muguruza’s fairytale comeback from an ankle injury which had sidelined her since July. She made her return last week in Auckland, reaching the quarter-finals, and has now won seven matches in Hobart after coming through qualifying to reach the final.
The win earns Muguruza a place in the final against Czech seventh seed Klara Zakopalova tomorrow.
“I’m really excited. It’s my first final and I’m so happy to be playing so good,” Muguruza said. “I’ve been working so much for this, so it is like a present.”
Muguruza has played the 31 year-old Zakopalova once before, losing in a three-set match that was decided in a final set tiebreaker in 2012.