Top-ranked Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova took one other main step in a partnership which started in junior ranks after they gained the Australian Open ladies’s doubles 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 Sunday from unseeded Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The Czech pair claimed their first Australian Open title to go along with one Wimbledon and two French Open titles to maneuver a step nearer to a profession Grand Slam in doubles. They are also Olympic champions.
They had been finalists in Melbourne final yr however went down 6-2, 6-3 to Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka. Krejcikova additionally had been in prime type within the singles in Melbourne this yr earlier than unexpectedly falling to Madison Keys within the quarterfinals.
Nailed it! 🏆@BKrejcikova x @K_Siniakova
#AusOpen · #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/NFqC4jlffp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
The prime seeds had been absolutely stretched by Danilina of Kazakhstan and Haddad Maia of Brazil who put collectively their partnership lower than a month in the past and had been unbeaten in 9 matches earlier than Sunday. They gained the Sydney Classic doubles title earlier than tackling their first Grand Slam event collectively.
Danilina and Haddad Maia grew to become the primary pair to take a set from Krejcikova and Siniakova in Melbourne and stored the ultimate alive for two hours and 42 minutes earlier than lastly succumbing.
Covering all bases 💪
🇰🇿Anna Danilina · 🇧🇷Beatriz Haddad Maia · #AusOpen · #AO2022🎥: @wwos · @espn · @Eurosport · @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/X0mTtJhSvN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
Krejcikova and Siniakova’s well-honed partnership was scratchy at occasions Sunday earlier than expertise pulled them by way of. Siniakova was extra lively within the first two units whereas Krejcikova appeared unusually caught on the baseline and fewer cellular than standard on the web.
Krejcikova stepped up within the last set and produced lots of the key factors, hitting strongly by way of the center of the courtroom whereas Siniakova crossed over on the web for clutch volleys.
Siniakova had served for the match at 5-2 within the third set however Danilina and Haddad Maia, to not be denied, broke her serve.
Haddad Maia held serve in entrance of cheering followers waving Brazil flags earlier than Krejcikova clinched the win on serve.
Czechmate 🇨🇿🏆@BKrejcikova & @K_Siniakova clinch their first #AusOpen ladies’s doubles title with a 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia & Anna Danilina.#AO2022🎥: @wwos · @espn · @eurosport · @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/n8PcGfeayG
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
“You guys have played two great tournaments and I hope you’re going to continue together and I hope we’re going to have more fights like this because it’s a real pleasure to share a court with you,” Krejcikova stated court-side. “You’re actually wonderful.
“I want also want to thank my partner for playing with me for a very, very long time. I’m so happy we are still working so well together and our co-operation is only going up so I’m really happy with that and I’m looking forward to the next adventure.”
Siniakova thanked Krejcivoka for her help by way of latest troublesome occasions.
“Thank you for pushing me hard and for helping me and just being on my side on the court,” she stated.
The prime seeds fell behind within the first set when Siniakova’s serve was damaged within the third sport. They leveled, breaking Danilina within the eighth sport and Siniakova and Danilina each misplaced their serves once more earlier than the set went to a tiebreak.
Danilina and Haddad Maia gained the primary six factors on the tiebreak and held on comfortably to take the set.
Haddad Maia dropped serve within the opening sport of the second set and Krejcikova and Siniakova held that benefit to degree the match. They additionally broke Haddad Maia for an early benefit within the deciding set earlier than their unseeded rivals fought again to increase the match.
Make that 4️⃣ Grand Slam ladies’s doubles titles for this duo 🏆 @bkrejcikova · @k_siniakova · #AusOpen · #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/2kGei7033I
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022
Haddad Maia already had skilled a finals loss towards Krejcikova and Siniakova, dropping to the pair within the finals of the French Open juniors.
“We weren’t supposed to play together again this week,” she stated, addressing Danilina. “I believe we performed our greatest in all of the matches. I believe we had eight matches within the third set so we gave every part and I’m very proud to be taught with you.
“Congratulations to Barbora and Katarina. I played you 10 years ago in the Roland Garros juniors finals and I lost also. But you guys are doing nice work all these years.”
Danilina was a star on the University of Florida, profitable an NCAA title with the Florida Gators earlier than graduating with an economics diploma in 2018.
