By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, November 11, 2022
Katerina Siniakova roared through the final 15 points conquering Coco Gauff 7-6(1), 6-1 to clinch the Czech Republic's return to the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Photo credit: Getty
Perennial power Czech Republic left the United States red, white and bruised in Glasgow.
A superb Katerina Siniakova streaked through the final 15 points conquering Coco Gauff 7-6(1), 6-1 to clinch the Czech Republic's return to the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with a victory over the United States.
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World No. 1 doubles player Siniakova won 31 of 38 first-serve points, battered Gauff's forehand into submission and won five games at love in an 85-minute triumph.
It was Siniakova's first singles match in nearly three weeks and she delivered dynamic tennis.
"I think I'm really excited how I did play today, because, yeah, for two weeks I didn't play singles," Siniakova said. "So I was, like, Okay, let's try it. But, I mean, it was really nice to go there, that Marketa won that first match.
"I was trying to keep telling myself that, I mean, I don't need to win, because we are the one who is leading. And I think it really helped me. I had a lot of great matches in singles, and I knew I can do it. So I was just fighting. In the end, I mean, I play better, so I'm really happy it went this way."
Both women made the trip from last week's WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas to Glasgow, Scotland yet Siniakova looked fresher throughout. Gauff, who went winless in singles and doubles a the WTA Finals and may have been running on fumes, concludes a breakthrough season on a five-match singles losing streak.
Chasing its 12th Billie Jean King Cup championship, the Czech Republic will face Switzerland for a spot in Sunday's final. The Swiss are playing for their first BJK Cup championship, while the Czechs have won six of their 11 BJK Cup Finals championships since 2011.
Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic burst through seven straight games sparking a 6-0, 7-5 win over Leylah Fernandez sending Switzerland into its second straight Billie Jean King Cup semifinal with a victory over Canada.
"Of course, I mean, it's going to be another tough matches, but I am ready," Siniakova said. "I love to play for my country, so I will just try to show the best tennis I can that day.
"Last year, we lost, so this year of course we will fight and we want to take it back."
Though the United States started today's final semifinal with the higher-ranked singles players and a 10-3 record against the Czech Republic. Both Czech singles starters played cleaner tennis and delivered runs that their American opponents could not overcome.
Streaking singles performances carried Czech Republic through to its first Billie Jean King Cup semifinal since 2018.
World No. 99 Marketa Vondrousova was down 1-3 when she tore through eight straight games defeating Danielle Collins 6-3, 6-3 in today's opening singles match.
It was Vondrousova's 10th victory in 11 BJK Cup matches and Collins' first defeat in six career singles matches.
"I knew she's a great player, so I was just staying focused on every point I could," Vondrousova said. "I think I played great match. You know, it was very tough because she was fighting till the end."
The two most prolific champions in Billie Jean King Cup met for the final semifinal spot with 18-time Cup champion United States seeking to avenge its 2018 Finals loss to 11-time champion Czech Republic.
Australian Open finalist Collins came out firing building that 3-1 lead, but Vondrousva made some slick stab returns to extend points.
Finding the formula changing direction with her forehand, Vondrousova slid a forehand winner down the line to seal the opening set.
When Collins whacked a forehand swing volley long, Vondrousova extended her second-set lead to 4-1.
The left-handed Vondrousova curled her forehand into all corners of the court bleeding errors from Collins.
The 14th-ranked American more than doubled Vondrousova's error output—30 to 14—and dropped serve four times.
It was Vondrousova's third win in as many meetings over Collins.
Winless in three prior meetings vs. Gauff, Siniakova came out with a clear plan to change that futility. Siniakova won the toss, elected to receive and lofted a lob that helped her break at love in the opening game.
Playing high, heavy topspin forehands to the Czech's forehand, Gauff broke right back.
Deadlocked at 4-all, Siniakova bungled a forehand sitter on a break point that would have given her a shot to serve out the set. Instead, Gauff stood firm, holding for 5-4.
The doubles world No. 1 pumped an ace down the middle to force the first-set tiebreaker.
A Gauff double fault and a Siniakova forehand smack off the baseline gave the Czech double mini break and a 4-1 tiebreaker lead.
Targeting the American's loopier forehand wing, Siniakova drew an errant forehand to snatch a one-set lead.
Roland Garros finalist Gauff tried asserting her net play at the start of the second set. Siniakova ripped a stinging pass right into the right hip that clipped the tape and rattled Gauff's racquet. Siniakova held her hands up in apology, holding for a 2-1 lead.
A Gauff approach lacked depth and angle and Siniakova made her pay redirecting a backhand pass for a break point in the fourth game.
The world No. 47 wisely picked on the Gauff forehand again and drew the error scoring her third break of the day for 3-1. Siniakova streamed through a love hold confirming the break for 4-1.
Siniakova closed with a flourish on that 15-point run to beat Gauff for the first time and keep Czech hopes of reclaiming the Cup alive.