Barbora Krejcikova matches Steffi Graf and the Williams sisters in a rare feat following her title over Iga Swiatek in Dubai

Barbora Krejcikova made her list into a record held by legends after clinching the Dubai Open 2023.

Barbora Krejcikova matches Steffi Graf and the Williams sisters in a rare feat following her title over Iga Swiatek in Dubai

Barbora Krejcikova and Iga Swiatek

Defying the odds and dethroning the World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the Dubai Open finals have made Barbora Krejcikova enter into the record list of legends as well. By clinching the title in Dubai by beating the top 3 players of the world en route, she has now become the fifth player ever to do the same in one tournament. This record was first achieved by Steffi Graf in 1999 and last by Aryna Sabalenka in 2022.

Steffi Graf did this by beating 3 top players in Roland Garros 1999. She had to beat Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final respectively. Davenport was World No.2 then, Seles No.3 and Hingis No.1. This feat was then achieved by Serena Williams in Miami Open 2002 where she had to beat World No.3 Martina Hingis in quarter-finals, World No.2 Venus Williams in semi-finals and World No.1 Jennifer Capriati in the final.

YouTube video

For the third time ever, Venus Williams was able to get this record in the 2008 WTA finals where she defeated World No.2 Dinara Safina and World No.3 Serena Williams in the round-robin stage and World No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals. Last year in the WTA finals, Aryna Sabalenka achieved this feat by beating World No.2 Ons Jabeur and World No.3 Jessica Pegula in the round-robin stage and World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.

FS Video

Also Read: Iga Swiatek gets into an argument with the chair umpire in Dubai finals over time violation

Barbora Krejcikova’s route to Dubai Open title

Barbora Krejcikova

The Czech World No.3 Barbora Krejcikova has one of the most difficult paths to a WTA title ever in the history of the game. She had to get through the top 3 players in the world from the quarter-finals to get her first title in Dubai. After beating the Romanian World No.39 Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round in straights: 6-4, 6-2, she had to dig deep in the second round. The Russian World No.8 Daria Kasatkina took the Czech to a three-setter before losing by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 5-7.

In the pre-quarterfinals, she overcame compatriot Petra Kvitova: 6-3, 6-2. Then she had to face World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. The Belarusian started the match in the best way possible, bagelling Krejcikova in the first set. But the Czech turned it around and won the match by a score of 0-6, 7-6(7-2), 6-1. In the semi-finals, World No.3 Jessica Pegula also gave her a tough test before losing by a score of 1-6, 7-5, 0-6.

After these tough battles, she was still able to keep up her energy level high in the finals and defeat the World’s best player in straights: 6-4, 6-2.

In case you missed it!

Novak Djokovic claims he would be unbothered if Rafael Nadal wins 10 Majors more than him

“I don’t see anything wrong in that,” Novak Djokovic relates his mentality with LeBron James when he calls himself the ‘best’