Tsvetana Pironkova made a three-year hiatus count at the US Open Wednesday. The 32-year-old who returned to the sport made her effort shine defeating tenth seeded Garbine Muguruza 7-5, 6-3 on Court 17 at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. The unseeded Bulgarian rattled the nerves of the Spaniard who let anger get the best of her skills and drop her out of the tournament.
The two met for the first time with each getting the tournament started right. The Bulgarian had an even match with Ludmilla Samsonova but managed a straight-sets victory. The former world number one had to shake off the ice early against Nao Hibino but warmed up enough to rage through her match in two sets as well. With conditions being warmer than their opening round, Muguruza and Pironkova would have to adapt fast and keep their skills in check.
The Spaniard started on her return game which assisted in producing breakpoints that gave her the opening lead. She consolidated with a service hold, but couldn’t keep the winning streak going. After Pironkova got on the board, Muguruza responded with a serve to love where she notched her third ace of the set. Pironkova dug in with a second hold that put Muguruza on notice that this wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.
The same went for Pironkova who struggled with putting too much on the ball from her backhand during her service game. She overcame a 0-30 deficit in the seventh before forcing deuce and securing the game, sitting one game behind the tenth seed. She remained that way, holding back Muguruza from another break chance in the ninth. The Spaniard suddenly was under pressure as her mistake on serve in the tenth delivered a break for Pironkova who was even with her opponent for the first time.
The tables of control turned with Pironkova overtaking Muguruza with her service that did well to place her in a position to take the set. A double fault and an error didn’t help Muguruza regain control as she fought to force deuce in the 12th. Despite two breaks to force a tiebreak, Muguruza watched a line drive from Pironkova end the set in 45 minutes with the Spaniard throwing her racket in anger. The return side for the tenth seed was under 40 percent with 15 unforced errors that erased her 16 winners. Before trying to use the set to reset, the former world number one snapped her racket and received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.
As the second got underway, Pironkova took advantage of her opponent’s issue and scored a serve to love. Muguruza earned a much-needed hold with the realization that she was still in the match. The Bulgarian tried to consolidate her hold with a break in the fourth but the three break points she had disappeared, as Muguruza fought back and held to level. They remained that way through six but as the former world number one tried to make it four-all, a double fault secured the break for Pironkova who served for the match.
The 32-year old’s game amplified her confidence and coasted to victory in the ninth earning her 21st top ten win in 1 hour and 23 minutes.
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