WTA Tour news: Barbora Krejcikova stuns World No 1 Iga Swiatek to clinch Dubai crown
- Planet Sport writer
- 25 February 2023
Barbora Krejcikova completed a clean sweep of the world's top three players with a stunning victory over top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final on Saturday.
The Czech followed up her surprise wins over Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka - the world number three and two respectively - this week with an even bigger upset as she shocked Swiatek 6-4 6-2 in 91 minutes.
In doing so, the former French Open champion joined elite company with Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Sabalenka the only other players to have beaten the top three-ranked players in a tournament.
Krejcikova, herself a former world number two but now ranked 30th, was strong on the Swiatek serve but the Pole twice recovered from breaks in a tight first set.
Krejcikova took firm control with another decisive break to lead 5-4 in the first set and then confidently closed out victory in the second.
"I think I showed my best tennis this week," Krejcikova said in her champion's press conference. "I'm really happy with the way how I played, how I was able to play my tennis but also hold the nerves, just enjoy everything that was happening during this week on the court."
"I love challenges," she added. "When there is somebody that is really tough, I just love to go out there and see where I am, if I can beat this player, if I cannot beat this player. It just gives me extra, extra push.
"When you play with Iga, you have to suffer, otherwise you're not going to win because she's everywhere. She plays great shots. She likes to play long rallies. So you have to suffer. I don't mind that."
Krejcikova is projected to ascend from 30th in the world all the way to number 16 in Monday's updated singles rankings.
"It's always nice to win a tournament, especially such a big tournament also in Dubai," she added. "I was here in the finals a couple years ago. It's a tournament that everything started for me in singles. Very, very special place.
"Definitely I'm going to have this in my mind throughout the season. I will just try to get better again, try to get to these finals and these big matches which I love."
Her first-ever Hologic WTA Tour 1000 title!!!
— wta (@WTA) February 25, 2023
🇨🇿 @BKrejcikova claims the @DDFTennis crown with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat over [1] Swiatek 👏#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/gLZvf0ImyO
