WTA Tour wrap: Krejcikova claims first title in Strasbourg
CZECH Barbora Krejcikova has won her maiden WTA Tour singles final in Strasbourg, defeating experienced Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the last tournament prior to Roland Garros kicking off today. The fifth seed won 6-3 6-3 in an hour and 39 minutes to salute on clay and head into the Grand Slam with plenty of confidence.
Krejcikova won despite having a shocking serving efficiency, producing 10 double faults and no aces for a 55.2 per cent clip, though when she did get it in she capitalised, winning 73 per cent of her first serve points. With Cirstea, the veteran might have served three aces and done it at a 62.5 per cent efficiency, but could not capitalise off her first serve, winning a poor 48.9 per cent of the points. She was also broken six times during the match and could only muster three breaks from seven chances against the fifth seed.
“There’s been a lot of emotions on the court,” Krejcikova said post-match. “I have so many things on my mind right now. “It’s really hard to put it in sentences.”
The 25-year-old Czech is at a career-high 38th in the world and is enjoying a really promising 18-8 start to 2021 as she eyes off a Top 30 spot. Known as a doubles player where she has won two Grand Slams among eight doubles titles, Krejcikova has risen from outside the Top 50 so far this year. Coming into the match, the players had played twice with a 1-1 head-to-head.
“I felt I was struggling with the serve already yesterday, and today I was struggling with the serve,” Krejcikova said. “But I just knew that it was going to be like this, and I was looking to find another way to win the match. To somehow fight for the ball each point, and just find a way to win the rally, somehow, even if my serve doesn’t work and it’s not really helping me.
“Actually at the end, at 5-3, I was serving really well! So I don’t know what happened, it’s been up and down.”
In the end, Krejcikova won 56.7 and 52.8 per cent of her service and return points, for an overall 54.7 per cent success rate to claim the breakthrough title ahead of Roland Garros. The most recent title winner will take on compatriot Kristyna Pliskova in the first round at Paris, with a potential second round clash against 32nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Cirstea has a tougher first-up match, locking horns with 19th seed Johanna Konta.
INTERNATIONAUX DE STRASBOURG FINAL RESULT:
[5] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) defeated Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-3 6-3
Picture credit: Internationaux de Strasbourg / Chryslène Caillaud
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