Iga Swiatek admitted that she “felt rusty” early in the match against Barbora Krejcikova but just wanted to stay positive and try to create some openings and see if a comeback was possible.
Playing in her first match since the US Open, the five-time Grand Slam champion found herself in major trouble after the Czech went up by a set and two breaks and opened a 6-4 3-0 lead. Since the reigning Wimbledon champion also beat the Pole in their last two meetings, everything appeared to be set for Krejcikova’s third consecutive win against the 23-year-old.
But then, Swiatek responded with back-to-back breaks to take a 4-3 lead in the second set. The world No. 13 managed to consolidate briefly and have the second set tied to five games apiece but then a major started and the Polish tennis star won seven games in a row to win the second set 7-5 and also open a 5-0 third-set lead.
Iga Swiatek© WTA Finals Riyadh/Instagram – Fair Use
Krejcikova managed to serve out the sixth game and get one break back in the following game but there was no coming back from a major deficit in the decider after the Pole claimed another break in the eighth game to close out the match.
Swiatek reflects on her major comeback win
“It wasn’t easy. At the start I felt rusty but I’m happy I found a way to play more solid. I didn’t feel great at the beginning. Barbora used that. The score went her way quickly. I knew it was tight even in the first set. I had my chances. I just wanted to use them next time,” the Pole admitted in her on-court interview.
When Swiatek was down big, the crowd tried to get her back into the match.
“I hear it for sure. I missed that. In tough moments today when I heard you guys screaming it helped me. Thank you guys for the support and for cheering.. even though at the beginning my game wasn’t so nice, you guys still believed,” the 23-year-old noted.
In her next match, Swiatek plays against Coco Gauff.