By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Sunday, June 25, 2023
In a battle of former Roland Garros champions, Jelena Ostapenko got past Barbora Krejcikova on the grass courts of Birmingham, England to win her sixth career WTA title.
The No. 2 seed Ostapenko defeated top seed Krejcikova 7-6(8), 6-4 to win the Rothesay Classic for her first title of the season.
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Before Sunday’s final, the 2017 Roland Garros winner Ostapenko endured tough matches all week long including a memorable early round three set win over Venus Williams.
In the quarterfinals, Ostapenko was forced to rally from a deep deficit to eventually beat Polish qualifier Magdalena Frech in three sets.
The opening set found both women serving comfortably with neither facing break points. When the tiebreak ensured, Ostapenko jumped out to 6-4 lead.
Yet, the 2021 Roland Garros winner Krejcikova saved both set points against her and then soon held her own set point at 8-7 after forcing an Ostapenko error. Ostapenko leveled for 8-all when she struck a sharp backcourt crosscourt winner.
Eventually Ostapenko earned another set point of her own with a forehand down the line winner. She soon took the set after winning a long rally 7-6(8).
The Latvian No. 1 took command of the second set early by securing two service breaks.
Soon enough, Ostapenko found herself a game away from the title at 5-1.
Krejcikova had other ideas though as she battled through a long seventh game on her serve to finally hold for 2-5. Ostapenko then struggled to put away the match as Krejcikova broke the Latvian for 3-5, and then held for 4-5 after Ostapenko netted a drop shot attempt.
Finally, in the tenth game, Ostapenko used her trademark power to earn her first match point.
Ostapenko secured the victory with a forehand winner to take the match 7-6(8), 6-4.
Photo Credit: Stephen Pond/Getty