Krejčíková defeated the Polish star 6:4, 6:2, winning her first singles title of the year and sixth career overall.

“It means a lot to me. I’m very happy with the result,” said the 27-year-old Czech, who became the tournament’s second winner 10 years after Petra Kvitová’s win.

He only had words of appreciation for his defeated opponent. “I admire Iga for what he is capable of. I respect him a lot and he is a huge inspiration to me,” the Grand Slam champion from last year’s Paris paid tribute to Šwiatek.

“It was a great final and I’m satisfied with the result,” added Krejčíková, who had to fend off four match points in the second round against Darja Kasatkinová of Russia.

In the updated WTA rankings, she moves from 30th to 16th place behind Petra Kvitová (15) and ahead of Karolina Plíšková (17)

Krejčíková became the fifth player in the last forty years to beat world number one, number two and number three in a single tournament.

Previously, only Sabalenkova, Steffi Graf and sisters Serena and Venus Williams had succeeded.

“Great success, I enjoyed it here. I love matches on big courts and the atmosphere is great,” said the Czech.

“I’m sure there are many more duels like that ahead of me,” said a delighted Krejčíková, who leveled with her Polish rivals at 2:2. He also beat him last year in the tournament final in Ostrava.

Šwiatek, a three-time Grand Slam champion, failed to build on his week in Doha and missed the chance to become the first player since 2007 to win both tournaments in a single season. Justine Henin from Belgium was able to do it then.

The Warsaw native has only lost the third match of the last 15 – in addition to two misses with Krejčíková, she also lost in 2019 in Lugano to Slovenia’s Polona Hercogová.

She was unsuccessful in the deciding match of the WTA 1000 tournament for the first time after her previous five wins.