Maiden singles title for Krejcikova

Playing for the first time in Strasbourg, Czech Barbora Krejcikova claimed her maiden WTA singles title at the Internationaux de Strasbourg with a 6-3 6-3 win over Romanian Sorana Cirstea in one hour 39 minutes under the Strasbourg sun. Krejcikova, 25-years-old, got off to the better start leading 4-0 before Cirstea won a game, finally closing out the set 6-3 after 53 minutes. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Krejcikova leading 3-1 then 4-2, before again finally claiming the set - and the match - 6-3.

Krejcikova was visibly emotional after sealing the win with a forehand winner, explaining post match that she had got a text from Jana

Novotna’s former coach telling her that the Internationaux de Strasbourg was Jana’s first clay title. Novotna was Krejcikova’s coach before she passed away. “He said, ‘I hope I’m not going to stress you out’. I said, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.’”

There are now four Czech players who appear on the list of winners of the Internationaux de Strasbourg, namely Barbora Krejcikova (2021), Nicole Vaidisova (2006), Radomira Zrubakova (1991) and Jana Novotna (1989). On route to her title in Strasbourg, Krejcikova beat Océane Dodin, Caroline Garcia, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Jule Niemeier. Ranked 38 in the world, Krejcikova faces another Czech, Kristyna Pliskova, in her first round match at Roland-Garros on Tuesday.