Former French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova spoiled the 29th birthday celebrations of Jessica Pegula as she hammered the American on Friday to reach the WTA Dubai final.
The Czech who won Roland Garros in 2021 will try and stop the Iga Swiatek juggernaut when they face off at the Aviation Club; it will be the second final here for Krejcikova (2021).
The Czech had few best wishes for Pegula in a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 semi-final defeat; the win served as revenge for a fourth-round Australian Open loss last month she took against this week’s third seed.
Top seed Swiatek earlier dispatched another American opponent, beating teenaged Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in just under 90 minutes to reach her second final in as many weeks after winning Doha.
The world No. 1, now 12-2 this season, will bid for her second title in a row after winning Doha.
The Saturday showdown with Krejcikova will be the 15th final of the 21-year-old’s career.
“For sure I’m happy that I started both sets well,” Swiatek said of her win. “She (Gauff) used her chances to come back.
“But honestly I felt like with the way I started I could also always come back to the game I played at the beginning.
“I’m pretty happy that I was solid and just confident.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion who claimed eight titles last season – and won 37 matches on the trot – is happy to be on form again after an early fourth-round Australian Open exit to Elena Rybakina.
“I don’t mind that (people) say if it (winning) looks easy or not. I know that it’s never easy.
“Tennis is such a complicated sport that you’re never going to know why or what happened. If you work hard and you give 100 per cent in every match, your chances are going to come.
“I’m pretty glad that I can play dominant tennis right now, but I’m really ready for every match and I’m really concentrated and motivated.”
Krejcikova dominated in the opening set with two breaks of serve. But the second was a more measured affair, with Pegula going up a break only to lose it a game later, 5-4 while missing out on a set point conversion.
The American finally levelled the match at a set each with a break of Krejcikova in the 12th game.
Krejcikova roared back into form in the third set as she swept to the win in two hours.
Main photo:- Barbora Krejcikova celebrates victory over Gauff ©WTATennis.com
