Doha (AFP)
Czech Petra Kvitova (10th in the world) won in Doha her second title in Qatar, after that obtained in 2018, by crushing in the final the Spaniard Garbine Muguruza (16th) 6-2, 6-1 in just over one hour.
At 30, Kvitova, who has never been world No.1 despite having won Wimbledon twice, brings her number of titles won on the circuit to 28 in 38 finals.
Kvitova was playing her third final in Doha.
She had already triumphed there in 2018 by already beating Muguruza in the final after a much more contested game (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).
"I feel a little bit at home here," said the tall Czech (1.82m), who led the race in a first set she started on her serve, then lined up six games. immediately in the second where it was led 1 game to 0.
Muguruza, ex-world No. 1 who, like his opponent, won two Grand Slam tournaments in his career, had benefited in the semi-final from the forfeit of his opponent, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, injured in the back.
Despite what could have been an advantage, she was utterly powerless.
Since her victory over Kvitova in the Masters group match in 2015, the Spaniard has lost the other five matches she has played against the Czech.
This defeat darkens a little her excellent start to the season: Muguruza indeed remained before this final on a round of 16 at the Australian Open where she had two match points against the future winner of the tournament, the Japanese Naomi Osaka. .
© 2021 AFP