Google News Sydney Tennis Classic: Paula Badosa edges out Barbora Krejcikova for title
by ABBEY JOHNSON | VIEW 3370
Paula Badosa denied Barbora Krejcikova another chance of making a comeback in the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic on Sunday. The Spaniard defeated the Czech 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in two hours and 22 minutes. This is Badosa’s first title of the 2022 season and right before the Australian Open, should give Badosa immense confidence.
The 24-year-old began the match on a dominant note and a break of Krejcikova’s serve in the seventh and ninth games helped her take the lead in the match.
Sydney Tennis Classic: Paula Badosa gets the measure of Barbora Krejcikova
Krejcikova, however, wasn’t done and as she’d done in her semi-final against Anett Kontaveit on Friday, the third seed began to script her second attempt at a comeback for the second straight day.
Badosa dropped her serve in the ninth game of the set which allowed Krejcikova to serve it out and level the match at a set apiece. In the deciding set, Badosa secured a break in the initial moments of the set but was broken almost immediately by Krejcikova.
The 2021 Roland Garros titlist’s resurgence, however, came to a halt in the tie-break as Badosa raced away with a couple of mini-breaks and never let go of her chances to see out the match in her favour. After her win, speaking about her prospects at Melbourne Park, Badosa said, “Of course, (winning the title) gives me a lot of confidence, especially with the level I have played this week.
Of course, (I am) tired. I play Monday. I will have to fly tonight, so let's see how I recover. But I will try to give my best there. I'm playing in a high level. Let's see. I'm looking forward to it”. The Sydney Tennis Classic’s Paula Badosa’s third WTA title, coming after her first two titles at the 2021 Belgrade Open and the 2021 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Badosa now holds a 3-0 record in the finals she’s contested this far. Meanwhile, she’s also extended her win-to-loss record against Barbora Krejcikova to 3-0 following this win.