By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday September 16, 2023
Barbora Krejcikova edged Sofia Kenin in a battle of former Grand Slam champions at San Diego.
A battle of former Grand Slam champions, former Top-5 players and wild cards at the Cymbiotika San Diego Open went the way of 2021 Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The 13th-ranked Czech outlasted 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes for her second title of 2023 and seventh overall.
Kenin, ranked 93, was playing in her first WTA final since October of 2020 when she contested the title round at Roland-Garros. Since then injuries have curtailed the American’s progress, but she is finding her form with a clean bill of health in 2023.
“Of course, I’m disappointed,” said Kenin. “But there are definitely a lot of positives. Last year, I played here and lost in the first round. Now I played in the final against a Top-10 player. She’s obviously a great player. I’ve shown that I can play, too. It was just a few points here and there that didn’t go my way. I’m going to take all the positives from this week.”
Krejcikova entered the main draw on a four-match losing streak and winless since the first round of Wimbledon (where she suffered an ankle injury), but the former World No.2 was in in good health and solid form on Saturday evening as she rallied from a break down in the opening set twice to lead Kenin 6-4.
24-year-old Kenin, bidding for her sixth title in her eighth WTA final, hit back to take the second set 6-2, but could not parlay her momentum into a comeback victory.
Krejcikova held her nerve in the final set, saving four break points to hold for 5-4 before breaking Kenin for the title, converting her second championship point as Kenin netted a backhand.
“I don’t know how I’m going to bring all these amazing trophies back home, because I already have three bags,” said Krejcikova, who came straight from the US Open in New York to play the 500-levelo event. “I think I’m only allowed to have three bags, so I don’t know what I’m going to do!”
Krejcikova also claimed the doubles title in San Diego. She and partner Katerina Siniakova defeated Danielle Collins and Coco Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-4 for the title.