It’s rare to come across a player that continues to rise to the occasion despite carrying considerable weight of expectation on her shoulders, but for some reason Garbine Muguruza is doing that so well it almost looks easy.

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The Spanish No2 seed has made it two wins from two matches on her WTA Finals debut in the White Group in Singapore after beating No6 seed Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 last night to follow her 6-3, 7-6 win over Lucie Safarova in her opener.

Less than 24 hours earlier, she had also won her doubles match alongside Carla Suarez Navarro. 

Muguruza, at 22, may be the youngest player in the singles field but is performing like she’s a veteran. 

She fired 38 winners yesterday against the tireless Kerber and came to the net a whopping 36 times – winning 28 of them – showing the kind of conviction that is forcing people to believe she is destined for greatness. 

“Definitely I’m feeling very good,” said Muguruza yesterday. “You never know how it’s going to go here when you come first time. For sure I’m very happy of how is it going. Hopefully I can keep playing like this.”

There are certain match-ups in tennis that force players to bring out the best in each other – contrasting styles that always produce a classic. A Muguruza-Kerber showdown falls under that category.

They had split their previous six clashes but Muguruza had won their last three coming into Singapore. 

Their Wimbledon third round was arguably the best women’s match of the fortnight and even though Wednesday night’s meeting was not a marathon three-setter, it still showcased Kerber’s relentless fight and retrieving skills together with Muguruza’s all-court aggression and net play.

Muguruza credits her early days of practicing on the clay courts of Spain for her all-round game.

“I think clay is a great surface. It’s slower and makes you learn more how to play. Makes you think, choose better,” said the Venezuelan-born Spaniard who trains in Barcelona. 

“I think it helps me. I think I don’t have this Russian style like everything flat. I have more resources because I’ve learned with all this time playing on clay.” 

Kerber entered the match filled with confidence having beaten Petra Kvitova in her opener and buoyed by her four title wins in 2015. And when Muguruza drew first blood, breaking in the German’s first service game, Kerber broke right back to level for 2-all.

They remained on serve until Muguruza created three break point chances with a ripping backhand down the line winner. She fired another moments later to break for 5-4. 

Kerber called for her coach, who advised her to rush Muguruza on her forehand. And it looked like his advice was going to work when Kerber got a break point. But Muguruza slammed down three service winners in a row to close out the set.

Muguruza led 4-2 in the second and it almost looked like she went a double-break up when umpire Marija Cicak mistakenly called game when the score was still 30-40 on Kerber’s serve.

A confused Muguruza felt there was something wrong and Cicak realised her error. Kerber saved a break point and held serve then broke to draw level at 4-all.

“It was weird. It’s not game. Do I have to sit? No, you don’t to have sit. So I was like in the middle. I didn’t lose any concentration but it was a weird moment. Never had this before,” said Muguruza.

The Wimbledon runner-up reacted immediately though, breaking Kerber again and she closed out the match fittingly at the net with a volley winner. 

“I think it was a great match from both sides, for Kerber and for me,” said Muguruza. “I think it’s the fifth time we play this year. I just keep working and improving. I think my level is really good now. Every time I go to the court against Angelique I know I have to play very good to win against her.”

All four players in the White Group can mathematically qualify to the semi-finals although Muguruza seems to have the strongest chance.

Only a straight sets loss to Kvitova coupled with a straight sets win for Kerber over Safarova on Friday – the last day of round robin action – could potentially see Muguruza miss out, although it will depend on the percentage of games won by each player.