Barbora Krejčíková defeated American world number three Jessica Pegula 6:1, 5:7, 6:0 at the tennis tournament in Dubai and will go for her first title of the season.
Last year’s two-time Roland Garros champion dominated the duel for more than two hours. For her sixth title on the WTA circuit, Krejčíková will face world number one from Poland, Iga Šwiateková, who eliminated another American, Cori Gauffová, after winning 6:4, 6:2.
Twenty-seven-year-old Krejčíková avenged Pegulaová’s January elimination in the last 16 of the Australian Open in the second match between them. The Ivančice native followed up her previous win over world number two Aryna Sabalenko of Belarus in Dubai, before also beating compatriot Petra Kvitova and world number eight Darja Kasatkina of Russia.
Krejčíková will face Šwiateková for the fourth time in his career. She has a 1:2 record with the 21-year-old Polish woman, but she last had success in a tournament final in Ostrava last October.
“It’s always fun to play against the best in the world and he was the best last year and he is the best now,” Krejčíková was quoted as saying on the WTA website. “He’s playing well, so at least I’ll find out how I do. I’m looking forward to it and I think it’s going to be a great final,” the Czech added.
The 30th player in the world Krejčíková had a very good start against Pegulaová. From 1:1, she won five games in the first set and took the lead after 29 minutes of play.
Twenty-nine-year-old Pegulaová, who advanced to the semifinals unopposed over Karolina Muchová, improved in the second set and took a 5-3 lead thanks to a break in the eighth game. The American did not use two set points after that, but at the end of the set she broke on Krejčík’s serve once again and leveled the match.
However, Krejčíková clearly took control of the decisive third set. The opponent took all three serves and gave him the walnut in twenty-seven minutes. Krejčíková advanced to the final in the United Arab Emirates after two years. In 2021, she was not enough for Spain’s Garbiňa Muguruza in a decisive duel.
“The second set didn’t work out for me, but I feel good,” said Krejčíková. “I always knew I had a great chance and I gave everything. That was needed against Jessica, she’s a great player and I’m very happy to win,” she added.
Dubai Women’s Tennis Tournament (hard courts, $2,788,468 donation):
Singles – Semi-finals:
Krejčíková (CZ) – Pegulaová (3-US) 6:1, 5:7, 6:0, Šwiateková (1-Pol.) – Gauffová (5-US) 6:4, 6:2.
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