Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza booked her place in the WTA Finals showpiece with a straight-set, 6-3, 6-3, victory over fellow Spaniard and seventh seed Paula Badosa in Guadalajara, Mexico on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old sixth seed raced through the first set in just 35 minutes to seize the lead but was made to work harder in the second.
Badosa paid the price for a loss of composure at crucial moments, notably in the third game of the second set when she squandered three breakpoints.
Instead, Muguruza held for a 3-0 lead and with Badosa appearing increasingly annoyed with her performance, the result was never in doubt.
Badosa, who had qualified for the semi-finals after topping the group stage, held serve in the fourth game to make it 3-1.
But a wild pulled return from Badosa allowed Muguruza to hold for a 4-1 lead, and Badosa was soon in trouble in the next game, going 0-40 down after two wild returns and a double-fault.
She rallied superbly to hold serve, however, saving four breakpoints, but the reprieve was only temporary.
The next two games went with serve to leave Muguruza serving for the match at 5-3.
Although Badosa took a 0-30 lead, Muguruza regrouped and claimed victory when Badosa sent a return into the net on match point.
Muguruza will face either eight-seeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit or fourth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece in Wednesday’s final.
