PETE ZIEBRON
Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova and Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, each qualifiers in their respective tournaments in Sydney and Hobart notched their first career WTA titles the week prior to the beginning of the 2014 Australian Open.
In order to win a major, 7 victories are needed in 2 weeks, however Pironkova and Muguruza each won 8 matches in 8 days! Pironkova won 16 of 17 sets played and defeated 3 top 10 players in the last 3 rounds of her win in Sydney.
- Throughout her career, Pironkova, a Wimbledon semifinalist and quarterfinalist, has now earned 11 victories over WTA players ranked in the top 10 and has impressively won 22 of the 25 sets played against the top 10:
d. #10 Venus Williams 2006 Aussie Open 2-6 6-0 9-7 1st round
d. #3 Ana Ivanovic 2008 Rome 6-4 5-7 6-2 2nd round
d. #7 Vera Zvonareva 2009 Moscow 6-0 6-2 2nd round
d. #5 Elena Demientieva 2010 Warsaw 7-5 4-6 6-4 2nd round
d. #2 Venus Williams 2010 Wimbeldon 6-2 6-3 Quarterfinal
d. #3 Vera Zvonareva 2011 Wimbledon 6-2 6-3 3rd round
d. #9 Li Na 2012 Paris 7-6(7) 3-2 RET 1st round
d. #3 Aga Radwanska 2012 Eastbourne 6-2 6-4 1st round
d. #7 Sara Errani 2014 Hobart 7-6(2) 6-3 Quarterfinal
d. #6 Petra Kvitova 2014 Hobart 6-4 6-3 Semifinal
d. #9 Angelique Kerber 2014 Hobart 6-4 6-4 Final
Tsvetana Pironkova was absolutely thrilled with her first career victory: "This is something that I've been waiting for for so long and something that I've missed so much. Now that I finally have it, it's all surreal. I still cannot believe it, honestly. My mom and dad are the people that have always been with me. Good or bad, they have always been behind my back and pushing me. My dad is also my coach, so obviously he's very excited, too."
Sixty-third ranked Garbine Muguruza absolutely blitzed the qualifying and main draw fields in Hobart, Australia on her way to her first career WTA title. As the #2 seed in qualifying draw, Muguruza dropped only 7 games in her 3 qualifying matches and lost only 15 games in the main draw in 5 matches.
- Here is a look at the impressive run Muguruza enjoyed in Hobart:
d. Channel Simmonds (RSA) 6-1 6-0 1st round - Qualy
d. Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 6-2 6-3 2nd round - Qualy
d. Naiktha Bains (AUS) 6-1 6-0 3rd round - Qualy
d. An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) 6-1 6-1 1st round
d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 4-1 RET 2nd round
d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4 6-3 Quarterfinal
d. Estrella Cabeza Candela (ESP) 6-0 6-1 Semifinal
d. Klara Zakopolova (CZE) 6-4 6-0 Final
Muguruza, a 20 year-old Venezuelan-born Spaniard has enjoyed success the last 2 years in Miami, defeating world #9 Caroline Wozniacki last year and world #9 Vera Zvonareva in 2012. With her win in Hobart, Muguruza rises to #58 in the world.
Muguruza opens her 2014 Australian Open campaign next week against #24 seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. Last year, she lost in the 2nd round to eventual quarterfinalist Serena Williams. Pironkova, who has never advanced past the 2nd round at the Australian Open, will be making her 9th appearance and plays Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa.