By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, February 7, 2025
American Ashlyn Krueger beat Linda Noskova 7-6(2), 6-4 to reach her second career final and first WTA 500-level final in Abu Dhabi.
Photo credit: Christopher Pike/Getty
Penning poetry is Ashlyn Krueger’s artistic outlet—and a way to manage the pressure of pro tennis.
A creative Krueger continues to script a powerful Abu Dhabi performance.
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In a clash of 20-year-old power players, Krueger conquered Linda Noskova 7-6(2), 6-4 advancing to her maiden WTA 500-level final at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open today.
Dallas native Krueger improved to 9-3 on the season and will face a former Abu Dhhabi champion—2023 title winner Belinda Bencic—in tomorrow’s final.
Bencic, who returned from maternity leave at the end of last season, reached the first final of her comeback and notched the first Top-5 win of her season with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over defending champion Elena Rybakina in Friday's second semifinal.
The Swiss will bid for her seventh hard court tile and ninth overall against a talented American that is also surging this week. Bencic, who gave birth to baby daughter Bella last year, was ranked No. 1213 in November. Tomorrow, she will play in her first WTA final since the 2023 Charleston title match.
This been a transformative tournament for Krueger, who won her first Tour-level title at the 2023 Osaka.
Krueger has show resilience winning three consecutive three-setters—including knocking off 2024 finalist Daria Kasatkina and beating 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinals—playing pivotal points on her terms.
This trip to the final propels Krueger to a new career-high rank of No. 40 in the WTA live rankings.
Coached by Michael Joyce, who formerly coached her tennis hero, Maria Sharapova, Krueger has done damage battering opponents with her backhand and sometimes changing direction down the line.
In a tight test, the first serve was key for Krueger. She served 74 percent, won 73 percent of her first-serve points and saved four of six break points against a dangerous Noskova, who owns a hard-court win over Iga Swiatek.
Prior to last month’s Brisbane tournament, Krueger was 2-11 vs. Top 20 opponents. Since then she’s 4-1 vs. the Top 20.
Today, Krueger rallied from a 2-4 first-set deficit converting her fourth break point to break back for 4-all.
Both women were hovering near the baseline, driving the ball with aggressive ambition as the set escalated into a tiebreaker.
Krueger was smacking drives with depth seizing a 5-1 tiebreaker lead.
On set point, Krueger whipped a wide serve to displace Noskova, set her feet and banged a backhand winner into the open court snatching a one-set lead with a shout.
Empowered, Krueger burst to a 5-1 second-set lead with penetrating strikes.
Serving for the final at 5-2, 40-30, Krueger couldn’t control a dropper attempt. Noskova saved match point then beat the 6’1” American with a lofty lob breaking back for 3-5.
That stand sparked a nine-point Noskova run as she held at love for 4-5 then threatened the Krueger serve at love-30.
The woman from Czechia was charging in one of her best stretches of the match.
A calm Krueger repelled the uprising. Blasting a bold backhand, Krueger converted her second match point when Noskova’s backhand sailed beyond the baseline.
Krueger thrust her arms in the air and broke into a wide smile of a first-time 500-level finalist.