WTA Dubai Open 2021: Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens-Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions

WTA Dubai Open 2021: Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens-Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions

Garbine Muguruza and Elise Mertens

Garbine Muguruza Elise Mertens

Garbine Muguruza will take on Elise Mertens in the Semi Finals of the Dubai Open 2021. Muguruza is currently the World no.16 on the WTA rankings and Mertens is the World no.18.  

Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Dubai Open 2021
  • Match: Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens
  • Round: Semi Finals
  • Date: 12th March, 2021
  • Prize Money: $87,000
  • Venue: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Surface: Outdoor Hard Court

Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens : Preview

Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza has finally started to show the fight that got her to the top of the women’s ranking back in 2017.  She may not yet be playing the same quality of tennis but her passion certainly seems to be back. In the Quarter Final encounter with Aryna Sabalenka, she withstood a very strong attack from Sabalenka, to mount a comeback and then eventually win the match in three sets. Sabalenka started the match very aggressively, hitting winners, and closing the first set 6-3.

In the second set Muguruza mounted a fantastic comeback and started playing her own aggressive brand of tennis. This led to Sabalenka pushing for more and ending up with more unforced errors. In the match itself, Sabalenka hit 26 winners but had 34 unforced errors, compared to Muguruza who hit 24 winners and had 20 unforced errors. In the end, Muguruza won in three sets 3-6 6-3 6-2. Her semifinal opponent is Elise Mertens.

Mertens had luck on her side as she pulled up a miracle in coming back from three match points down to winning the match 5-7 7-5 6-0 against Jessica Pegula. Pegula who has a style of all aggression and all in, gave it her all and should have won but just couldn’t get the job done. Mertens showed incredible tenacity to hang in there, and eventually won 11 straight games towards the end to win the match. 

Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens: Head-to-Head

Elise Mertens
Elise Mertens

The two players have met twice on the tour, with Muguruza winning the only match between them. She defeated Mertens at the 2016 US Open 2-6 6-0 6-3. So the head to head is 1-0 in favour of Muguruza. 

Garbine Muguruza vs Elise Mertens: Prediction 

Garbine Muguruza
Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza has shown resilience, courage and that fire to win. She has in the last two rounds taken on and beaten the two finest young prospects on the Women’s tour in Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka and that speaks volumes about Muguruza’s grit.

She was unlucky in the way she capitulated at the Qatar Open final against Kvitova but here she looks good to move to the finals. Mertens has her work cut out in the semi finals and would hope she is as lucky as she was against Pegula. But there is no doubt that Muguruza is the favourite for this one. 

Match Prediction: Garbine Muguruza to defeat Elise Mertens in straight sets. 

Also read: WTA Dubai Open 2021: Garbine Muguruza vs Aryna Sabalenka-Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions