Zakopalova, Muguruza to decide Hobart WTA champion

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Klara Zakopalova beat No. 1 seed Samantha Stosur and Garbine Muguruza lost only one game Friday in the semifinals of the Hobart International tennis tournament.

Zakopalova saved eight of the 10 break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Stosur. She went 5-for-5 in break chances and won more than half (30-of-57) of the points off Stosur's serve.

Muguruza won the first eight games of a 6-0, 6-1 romp over Estrella Cabeza Candela in a match between Spanish qualifiers. Muguruza dropped just six points over six games serving and won 70 percent of the points when Cabeza Candela served.

Zakopalova took a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) decision over Muguruza in 2012 in the only previous meeting between the two. Zakopalova gained her 14th WTA finals appearance but has only two titles to show for it. Her most recent tournament win was in September 2005 in Slovenia. She is 0-4 in title matches since then.

The titlist in Hobart collects $43,000, with the second-place check worth $21,400. The other semifinalists each won $11,300.