Tennis: Krejcikova eyes return to singles big-league after Dubai win
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Barbora Krejcikova celebrates her win against Poland's Iga Swiatek.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUBAI – Barbora Krejcikova said she hoped her Dubai triumph can help get her singles career back on track following an injury-plagued 2022, during which the former French Open champion slid down the world rankings.
An accomplished doubles player with plenty of Major success, Krejcikova announced herself on the Grand Slam stage in singles when she won the 2021 Roland Garros title and climbed to No. 2 in the rankings the following year.
But an elbow injury meant she struggled in the first half of 2022 with several months on the sidelines. She claimed titles in Tallinn and Ostrava before a wrist problem flared up towards the end of the season.
Krejcikova will climb from No. 30 to 16 on Monday after beating the top-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s Dubai final.
“Last year was really tough, especially being out for so long. I really couldn’t find my game till the end of the season. Then at the end of the season I got injured,” Krejcikova said.
“During the off-season I started off Christmas playing tennis, I didn’t start before that. In the beginning of the season, it was a miracle wherever I got.
“I felt like with me playing and practising, being healthy, I can achieve big things. I’m really happy I’m here with this trophy and I can celebrate. I hope I’m going to get back to where I belong.”
Krejcikova, who lost to Garbine Muguruza in the Dubai final two years ago, said she was happy to capture her maiden WTA 1000 crown at a venue that helped kick-start her singles career.
“It’s a special place. Definitely I’m going to have this in my mind throughout the season,” Krejcikova said.
“I’ll try to get better again, try to get to these finals and big matches which I love.”
Saturday’s victory meant Krejcikova became only the fifth player to defeat the top three in the world at the same event and she began in dominant fashion by breaking in the first game with a searing cross-court backhand winner.
A loose game allowed Swiatek to draw level at 3-3 but her Czech opponent struck back immediately with aggressive ball-striking only to surrender her serve again.
Krejcikova took the next game to love as Swiatek struggled to contain the unforced errors and the 27-year-old held firm to wrap up the opening set when the Pole sent a forehand long.
It was the first set that Doha champion Swiatek had dropped in the past two weeks and the 21-year-old found herself trailing 4-2 in the second set as Krejcikova took control of the match.
Krejcikova, who defeated Australian Open champion and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals and the third-ranked Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals, closed out the match on serve to join an elite club.
Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Sabalenka are the others who have beaten the top-three ranked players in the same tournament. REUTERS
