Tatjana Maria vs Kamilla Rakhimova: Guadalajara Final Analysis (WTA 125)
Rakhimova overcame Maria with constant net attacks meshed with patient rallying.
Kamilla Rakhimova (WTA #104) arrived in Guadalajara after a first-round exit at Flushing Meadows. But it was no ordinary defeat. Rakhimova lost to world #1 Iga Swiatek 4-6, 6-7 (6-8) offering great resistance and even holding 3 set points during the second set tie-break.
Despite those missed chances at the end, the match gave Rakhimova such a confidence boost that it became the launching pad to her biggest title to date. The 23-year-old reached the Guadalajara final without dropping a set, then defeated No. 4 seed Tatjana Maria (WTA #99) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 to secure her first WTA 125 trophy.
For Rakhimova, this was her second straight Mexican title. Her previous tournament win was at Irapuato (ITF W60 in March 2023), not very far from Guadalajara.
For Maria, this was her second straight runner-up finish at WTA 125 level. She lost the final of the last WTA 125 event held before the US Open (in Barranquilla to Nadia Podoroska) and now lost the final of the first WTA 125 of the post-Open season.
Rakhimova came prepared to take on Maria’s unique, slice-heavy playing style. Aware that the decision of a large number of points would be on her racquet, Rakhimova implemented a three-pronged gameplan:
Great “+1” aggression
Constant net attacks, without hesitations
Patient rallying while waiting for the right opening
1. Great “+1” aggression
Rakhimova tried to counter Maria’s serving edge with “+1” aggression.