Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza humbled second-ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 in Sunday’s final of the ATP & WTA Western & Southern Open, denying the Romanian the world No. 1 spot in the process.
Sixth-seeded Spaniard Muguruza needed only 56 minutes to capture her second title of the year and her first in a US event, taking the $522,450 top prize in the last major US Open tune-up.
The Czech Republic’s Carolina Pliskova, whom Muguruza beat in the semifinals, retains the No. 1 slot.
Muguruza dominated the match against Halep at all times, never allowing her rival to develop her best shots, powerful blasts from the right deep into enemy territory.
Meanwhile in the men’s section, Bulgaria's 11th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov captured his seventh career ATP title and third of the year, defeating Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 in the summit clash.
Dimitrov never dropped a set in taking the top prize of $954,225 and the biggest title of his career, a perfect stepping stone into the US Open that begins a week from Monday.
“In the big picture, it means a lot to me,” Dimitrov said. “I’m pretty confident after that win. This is what I’ve been practising for. It’s my biggest win so far. I’m going to enjoy it for a day or two but then it's back to the routine and prepare for the US Open.”
Not since Guillermo Canas beat Andy Roddick in 2002 at Toronto had two first-time ATP Masters finalists met for a Masters crown.
Kyrgios, who bounced top-seeded Rafael Nadal out of the tournament in the quarterfinals, could not rely on his decisive serve for the win, although he did fire 15 aces to Dimitrov’s six, he also had four double faults to the Bulgarian’s five. Dimitrov broke the Australian’s service twice, once in each set.
The results (finals): Men: Grigor Dimitrov bt Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5. Women: Garbine Muguruza bt Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 .
