Barbora Krejcikova Eyes Return To The Top After Dubai Triumph - UBITENNIS

Barbora Krejcikova Eyes Return To The Top After Dubai Triumph

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova says she is hopeful of returning to ‘where she belongs’ on the Tour after her sensational run at the Dubai Tennis Championships. 

The former French Open champion secured the title on Saturday by defeating an erratic world No.1 Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-2. Swiatek, who was on a six-match winning streak, won less than 50% of her service points against Krejcikova and produced a series of mistakes. Paving the way for the world No.30 to clinch her sixth WTA trophy. 

“I feel great. I think I showed my best tennis this week,” she said. “I’m really happy with the way how I was able to play my tennis and also hold my nerves, just enjoy everything that was happening during this week on the court.”

Krejcikova’s latest win followed up on her victories over world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka and world No.3 Jessica Pegula earlier in the tournament. She also defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and top 10 player Daria Kasatkina in Dubai. Krejcikova is only the fifth WTA player to defeat the world’s three highest-ranked players within the same tournament in the past 40 years. Before her, the last player to do so was Sabalenka at the 2022 WTA Finals. 

“It’s a huge privilege,” Krejcikova commented on the milestone. “I’m not really following that much, these things. I try to focus on tennis and on my performance.’
“But it’s a big achievement and I think it’s going to give me a lot of confidence that I can play with the best ones.”

The 27-year-old was ranked as high as second in the world rankings less than a year ago before an injury derailed her momentum. An elbow issue sidelined her from the Tour for four months in 2022 and when she returned Krejcikova only managed to win back-to-back matches in two out of 10 tournaments played. However, she ended last year by winning back-to-back titles in Tallinn and Ostrava. 

As for this season, prior to Dubai Krejcikova had won five out of nine matches with her best run being to the fourth round of the Australian Open. 

“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 is set to return to the world’s top 20 on Monday for the first time since October. 

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