Krejcikova crowned in Dubai, beats Swiatek in straight sets

Barbora Krejcikova stunned world No 1 Iga Swiatek by sweeping her aside 6-4, 6-2 to win the title in Dubai.

It is the Czech’s first-ever WTA 1000 crown – and she defeated the top three in the world to do it, having eliminated world No 3 Jessica Pegula in the semi-final and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-final.

She is now set to return to the top 20 herself – possibly even as high as world No 16, following a 2022 in which she was beset by injury.

“I think I was improving with every single game…I’m really happy with the result,” Krejcikova told the television interviewer immediately after the match.

And she also had some words for her vanquished opponent: “To me she is a big inspiration and she motivates me every day. It was a great final.”

She added: “It’s an achievement, what I was able to do this week.”

Krejcikova came into the final with over nine hours spent on the court in the previous five rounds – while Swiatek had less than four hours after a first-round bye and a quarter-final walkover.

But she hit 23 winners compared to 10 from Swiatek, and 19 unforced errors compared to 27 from her opponent. She also took five of her six break points, while Swiatek managed two.

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