In the end, it was the underdog, Agnieszka Radwanska, who took the honours at the WTA Finals in Singapore. A regular bridesmaid at tennis’ top events over the years, the Pole deserved her moment on centre stage, but perhaps the biggest newsmaker in Singapore, in terms of future potential at least, was Garbine Muguruza.
With Serena Williams gradually riding towards the sunset, women’s tennis has been searching for the next big thing and, after a few false dawns, they might have finally found a successor in the young Spaniard, who dropped only one set in her first three matches in Singapore before losing to Radwanska in the semis.
READ MORE:
– Sorry Novak Djokovic, but Roger Federer v Rafa Nadal matches take tennis to a different plain
– Time for Serena Williams to convert a break point
Starting the year at No 24 in the rankings, Muguruza has risen to No 3 with good performances at three of the four majors.
She played the final at Wimbledon after reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open, losing on both occasions to Williams. She made it to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, but made a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open.
Muguruza, 22, has recovered well since, making the Wuhan final before winning in Beijing.
The challenge will be to maintain this level in 2016 and avoid the kind of slump that has scarred Eugenie Bouchard’s year, with the Canadian slipping from No 6 in the rankings to No 48.
Bouchard had distractions with the media and marketing circus around her. Muguruza will have less of those problems and will hopefully spend most of next year on court building on a promising 2015.
arizvi@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
