Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens beat defending champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 4-6, 11-9 to win the doubles title within the WTA Finals. Kudermetova and Mertens received six consecutive factors after falling behind 7-2 within the champions tiebreaker earlier than closing issues out on their second match level.
No. 6 Caroline Garcia confronted seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka for the singles championship later Monday. Krejcikova and Siniakova had been attempting to complete off a dominant season that included titles in any respect three of the Grand Slam occasions wherein they competed.
Veronika Kudermetova, left, of Russia, and doubles associate Elise Mertens, proper, of Belgium, pose with the winner’s trophy whereas carrying cowboy hats following their win over Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, each of the Czech Republic, within the doubles last of the WTA Finals tennis match in Texas, Monday (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
It was simply the fourth lack of the season for the Czech duo, which was attempting to develop into the seventh doubles group to defend a WTA Finals championship. Kudermetova and Mertens wanted lower than an hour to beat Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs within the semifinals, then carried over that momentum into the primary set of the ultimate.
After profitable the final two video games of the second set to pressure the tiebreaker, Krejcikova and Siniakova raced to the large lead within the tiebreaker earlier than faltering on the momentary indoor onerous courtroom at Dickies Arena.
The occasion was moved to Texas from China over considerations in regards to the security of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former authorities official there of sexual assault. Coronavirus restrictions additionally performed an element within the determination. It’s the primary WTA Finals within the U.S. since 2005. Kudermetova and Mertens avenged a loss to Krejcikova and Siniakova within the Australian Open semifinals.
Mertens is a three-time main winner in doubles, together with the 2019 U.S. Open and 2021 Australian Open with Sabalenka.
