By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 22, 2023
The WTA's first all-Czech final since 2021 was an absolute barnburner, as Katerina Siniakova edged Marie Bouzkova in three hours and 33 minutes for the Jianxi title.
Photo Source: TTV
Nearly two hours after she held a championship point in the second set, leading at 5-3, Marie Bouzkova had another two in the third set, leading 5-3, 40-15.
It wasn’t meant to be…
Katerina Siniakova saved all three championship points she faced and marched on to an epic 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) triumph that lasted three hours and 33 minutes and goes down as the longest WTA final of 2023.
Siniakova rallied from 5-3 down in the second and third sets to win her second title of 2023, and the fifth of her career, taking the first all-Czech final on the WTA Tour since 2021 in the most dramatic fashion.
“To finish the season like that it’s the definition of a tennis battle,” said Bouzkova on court after the match. “It hurts. It’s been a tough season, so to finish like that, I guess it was bound to happen. Even some I’m grateful. Just keep going and be stronger next year.”
Siniakova, ranked 60, won the title at Bad Homburg this summer and also played the final at Hong Kong last week.
She improves to 21-17 on the season and will head to Cancun where she will take part in the doubles competition at the WTA Finals with Barbora Krejcikova next.
“It was a really tough match,” Siniakova, who improved to 2-0 lifetime against Bouzkova, said. “I think it’s really sad that just one can win.”