The World No.110 would put together this streak with some impressive aggressive play, pounding two heavy off forehands to recapture the first break and finding a good deal of success at net, where she showed off her touch with delicately angled volleys. Hsieh’s execution, meanwhile, was oscillating wildly: the Dubai semifinalist would finish the first set with 16 winners, but also 16 highly uncharacteristic unforced errors.

Hsieh continued to be out of sorts in the second set, striking out unusually impatiently at times, and she was not helped by some sterling defensive work from the Spaniard. Indeed, it was now Arruabarrena coming up with the magic from improbable positions – an exquisite counter-drop, a backhand winner down the line at full stretch – and a superb dropshot sealed a double break for 4-1.