ALL three WTA Tour events finished up with varying results overnight, with the two clay events seeing the number one seed claim the crown as the hard court event saw the second seed reign supreme in an all-Czech battle.

In Prague, it was Barbora Krejcikova who overcame eighth seed Tereza Martincova in an effortless 6-2-6-0 battle, requiring just 65 minutes to defeat her fell countrywoman. Winning 71.9 per cent of her first serve points, the Roland Garros champion was relentless firing 26 winners throughout to claim her third title of the year, and first on the hard surface.

“It’s easier to play and fight when there are people – Czech people. Normally, if it wasn’t in the Czech Republic, I wouldn’t play any tournament [this week] because I just felt really tired. But they all wanted to see me, and I felt they gave me so much energy in Paris,” Krejcikova said. “They’ve been enjoying it so much. So I felt I really have to come here and play my best every single day, just so they can see me and see that I’m real. I had to give it back to them somehow.

“That was pretty much my power – the people came to see me, and I didn’t want to disappoint them.”

“I felt as soon as I broke her I felt a little better,” she said. “But still, it was pretty tight, the first few games, and I was really happy I actually got the first set. And the second was also tight, we had some deuces. I was just able to convert the big points a bit better. When I got to the 3-0 lead, I felt really confident, and I felt I really had to finish it.”

In Lausanne, Switzerland, it was top seed Slovenian Tamara Zidansek who claimed the crown over Frenchwoman Clara Burel, earning her first WTA singles title with a two hour and four minute 4-6 7-6(5) 6-1 victory. But fellow first-time finalist and junior world number one Burel was no easybeat, winning the first four games to run away with the first set and force a second set tiebreaker, before losing momentum as Zidansek gained control in the third.

“The conditions were tricky, I didn’t start well,” Zidansek said. “But from 1-5, I got three [consecutive] games, and I started feeling a little bit better. I just kept telling myself to keep fighting, go for every point. In tennis, everything can change in one point, so I’m really happy with the way I managed to stay in the match.”

In Hungary, it was another comprehensive straight sets win to claim the title as top seed Yulia Putintseva took out her second tour-level title, downing Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 6-0 in 70 minutes flat. Putintseva was consistent throughout, winning 63 per cent of the total service points and 59.5 per cent of the return points in a classy finish to the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“I’m very happy to win my second trophy on clay,” Putintseva said, after hitting 17 winners to Kalinina’s 11.

“I’m very confident right now, and I’m going to Tokyo with five wins behind my back,” Putintseva said. “It’s very important. I need to adapt quick for the surface because it’s going to be different, but I’m ready for anything.”

PRAGUE OPEN SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[2] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) defeated [8] Tereza Martincova (CZE) 6-2 6-0

LADIES OPEN LAUSANNE SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Tamara Zidansek (SLO) defeated Clara Burel (FRA) 4-6 7-6 6-1

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX SEMI-FINALS RESULTS: 

[1] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-4 6-0

Picture credit: Livesport Prague Open