Strasbourg International: Barbora Krejcikova pips Sorana Cirstea for 1st career title

Barbora Krejcikova triumphed over Sorana Cirstea in the final of the Strasbourg International on Saturday to win her maiden title on the WTA Tour. The fifth-seeded Czech won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 39 minutes.

Although the two sets had the same score margin, the proceedings were quite different across both sets.

In the opening set, Krejcikova raced to a 5-2 lead and even had two set points to close the set out in the eighth game. However, Cirstea pegged her back by saving the set points and then getting a break of her own in the same game. But Krejcikova shrugged aside the brief lapse in concentration and pocketed the set as Cirstea was trying to consolidate the break back.

In the second set, neither player was able to hold on to her serve in the opening few games. But once again it was Krejcikova who tightened the proceedings and staunched that bleeding. Later, she also broke Cirstea yet again to serve for the match in the ninth game of the set. This time around, there were no comebacks in store as the world no. 38 converted the first of three match points.

Strasbourg International: Barbora Krejcikova emulates Jana Novotna

In her post-match press conference, Krejcikova said, “There’s been a lot of emotions on the court. I have so many things on my mind right now. It’s really hard to put it in sentences.”

Krejcikova became the third Czech Republican player after Jana Novotna and Nicole Vaidisova to win the title in the French city. Incidentally, there’s a deeper connection between Novotna and Krejcikova winning in Strasbourg.

The 1998 Wimbledon titlist who passed away in 2017 was Krejcikova’s coach before her death. Also, while Strasbourg has become the tournament for the 25-year-old’s first title, for Novotna it was the tournament where she won her maiden title on clay.

Speaking about this coincidence at the Strasbourg International, Barbora Krejcikova said, “I think from somewhere above me; she was really looking after me, and she was helping me with the lines, and she really wanted me to win. I’m just really happy that I was able to do that, and that she was looking after me.”

Photo Credit: Chryslène Caillaud

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