Tag Archives: Hong Kong Open

Muguruza Defeats Timea Bacsinszky at the China Open to Claim Second WTA Tour Title

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Garbine Muguruza has returned to the winner’s circle…

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan professional tennis player claimed her second career WTA Tour title on Sunday, but not without breaking a sweat.

Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza rallied in both sets in the China Open women’s final to defeat Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-4.

Muguruza trailed 5-2 in the opening set before winning five straight games to clinch it, then went down an early break in the second set before coming back yet again.

She’ll rise to a career-high ranking of No. 4 on Monday, while Bacsinszky will break into the top 10 for the first time.

“Definitely it’s a big achievement. I think, you know, to see you are improving, also on the tennis side, but in the rankings, it’s that moment when there’s only three more in front of me,” Muguruza said, smiling. “Three more. Three more.”

Muguruza struggled after her breakthrough performance at Wimbledon—where she reached the finals—losing in the second round of the US Open. But she has played some of her best tennis in the past two weeks. She also reached the final last week in Wuhan, retiring in the second set with a left ankle injury while trailing Venus Williams.

Hours after winning the China Open, Muguruza pulled out of this week’s Hong Kong Open. Organizers said she needed to recover from an ankle problem.

Jimenez Makes History at the Masters Golf Tournament

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Miguel Angel Jimenez has entered the annals of Masters history…

The 50-year-old Spanish professional golfer made Masters Golf Tournament history on Saturday by tying the record for the lowest score shot by a player age 50 or older.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Jimenez, who has 20 wins on the European Tour, shot 6-under-par 66 to surge up the leaderboard and move two shots behind co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson in a tie for fifth place

Jimenez matched the 66 shot by Ben Hogan at the Augusta National Golf Club in 1967 and again by Fred Couples in 2010.

“I love the place,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place, a beautiful golf course, always manicured, and I feel great here. Doesn’t matter how you play, you feel good, because everything is prepared for us the way it is.

“If you are 50 doesn’t mean that you cannot play well. I’m still moving. I’m still flexible … the main thing is I’m doing what I like to do in my life and I’m enjoying it completely.”

Jimenez, who won the UBS Hong Kong Open late last year, started his round at 3 over, but birdied the third, fifth, 10th and 11th holes before a bogey at No. 12. He then added birdies at Nos. 13, 14 and 16.

Playing in his 15th Masters, Jimenez matched his lowest score at Augusta National, shot in 2010. His best finish is a tie for eighth in 2008.

Although Jimenez is scheduled to make his Champions Tour debut next week in Atlanta, he doesn’t plan to make a habit of the 50-and-older circuit — at least not this year. He has a goal of making the European Ryder Cup team.

“I know I have a chance to play the Ryder Cup,” said Jimenez, who is ranked 40th in the world and 13th on the European Tour points list — a world list is also used to determine the nine automatic qualifiers.

Jimenez has played on four European teams and was a vice captain for Jose Maria Olazabal‘s winning team in 2012 at Medinah.

Jimenez Successfully Defends His Hong Kong Open Title

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Miguel Angel Jimenez has extended his record as the oldest winner in European Tour history…

The Spanish professional golfer successfully defended his Hong Kong Open title Sunday at 49 years, 337 days to break the record he set last year at Hong Kong Golf Club, holing an 18-foot birdie on the first hole of a playoff with Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and Wales’ Stuart Manley.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

“I turn 50 next month, but I’m still fit,” said Jimenez. “I stretch every morning. You have to do this to keep up with the younger lot.”

Jimenez won the event for the fourth time to match the tournament victory record set by Taiwan’s Hsieh Yong Yo, the winner in 1963, ’64, ’75 and ’78.

“It just gets better and better. I love Hong Kong and this course,” said Jimenez, also the winner in 2004 and 2007. “This is my fourth and it was my hardest. When you need to play a playoff, you need to play one more hole, and against two guys also trying to win is hard. But my experience paid off.”

Jimenez has 20 European Tour victories, a tour-record 13 since turning 40.

Jimenez closed with a 4-under 66 to match Meesawat at 12-under 268. Manley holed a birdie chip on the final hole of regulation for a 68, and Meesawat had two eagles in a 65.

“I was very pleased with my round,” Meesawat said. “But I had a few chances to collect a couple more birdies. Unfortunately, they fell short and in the playoff I had a bad approach shot.”

In the playoff, Jimenez hit his approach on the green at the par-4, 410-yard 18th. Manley sliced his shot onto a corporate box roof, and Meesawat’s approach fell just short of the green.

After Manley and Meesawat failed to hole their third shots, Jimenez rolled in his birdie putt.

“I just love this course,” Jimenez said. “It is an old-fashioned course where accuracy off the tee counts. You have to control the ball here.”