aTue, 23 Jan 2024 17:02:00 +0100 b23.01.2024 17:02 c
Updated: 23/01/2024 17:02 Issued: 23/01/2024, 17:02
Czech tennis player Barbora Krejcikova celebrates after winning the round of 16 match at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 21, 2024. AP/Alessandra Tarantino
Melbourne – Tennis player Barbora Krejčíková regretted not performing better after her quarterfinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenko at the Australian Open. Due to the attacking game of the world number two and the defending champion, the Czech player risked more on serve, but she could not avoid mistakes. In an interview for Eurosport nevertheless, she called progressing among the top eight players of the tournament a good start to the season.
“If I look at it now, I’m sad about the result. I’m disappointed that I didn’t play better and that the chance to win was very far away,” said Krejčíková, who played the role of tournament nine at the opening Grand Slam of the year.
“But from a more distant perspective, it’s a very good start to the beginning of the season. I’m proud of the fact that I managed to be like this in the second week, reached the quarterfinals, played so many good matches, fought so many and turned them around,” she added with a comment three matches, which she won despite losing the first set.
The 28-year-old Krejčíková entered the tournament with a victory over the Japanese Mai Hontama, after which she eliminated the German Tamara Korpatsch, the Australian Storm Hunter and also the sixteen-year-old Russian Mirra Andrejev. But she resisted last year’s champion Sabalenkova for only one hour and 11 minutes. She lost serve six times and lost in a 6:20 winning point ratio.
“It seemed to me that in the first set I had a low percentage on the first serve. When I went through the second, I was immediately under pressure, so it wasn’t quite optimal. I probably tried to risk it more, that’s why it didn’t work for me. I knew that I have to play at maximum risk,” Krejčíková said.
She soon lost 1:4 in both sets, and although she reduced it to 3:4 in the second set, she did not manage another turn in the tournament. However, by advancing to the quarterfinals, Krejčíková equaled the previous maximum from 2022 in Melbourne.
“In the second set, it seemed to me that as the match progressed, so did my game. I adapted more to her speed and style. Besides, I had some situations that perhaps developed better for me, but I didn’t finish them and the points were running away from me. It’s hard to turn the match from 1:4. Even though I tried and pulled it back, unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” added Krejčíková.
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