Anett Kontaveit and Barbora Krejcikova will play each other for the Tallinn Open title on Sunday. On Saturday, Kontaveit, the tournament top seed and Krejcikova, who’s the seventh seed came through their respective semi-finals.
Kontaveit ousted Kaia Kanepi in the derby clash of Estonians. After 80 minutes of play, Kontaveit won 6-4, 6-4 against her older compatriot. Of the two players, it was Kanepi who won a higher margin of first-serve points – 78% to Kontaveit’s 70%. But the latter won more second-serve points, 59% to Kanepi’s 33% to hold her ground across the match. For the match, Kontaveit finished with 23 winners, five more than her opponent’s 18. She also had 17 unforced errors, eight fewer than Kanepi’s 25.
Tallinn Open: Barbora Krejcikova upsets Belinda Bencic
Speaking after the win, Kontaveit shared, “I felt like I was confident in what I came to do here today on the court and I felt like I made it happen really well. I started aggressive and was playing confidently.” She also spoke about the significance of two home favourites clashing against each other in the home nation. “I think it was a special moment for (Kanepi and I) sharing the court here, being in Tallinn in front of the home crowd, of course. It was a special experience and I was trying to enjoy it as much as I could.”
Meanwhile, Krejcikova needed three hours and 22 minutes to get the better of second seed, Belinda Bencic. The Czech came from a set down to eventually prevail 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 6-2. Krejcikova had 20 break point chances on the Swiss’ serve but the latter saved 17 of these. Krejcikova faced two break points herself of which she conceded one.
The Tallinn Open final will be the third time Anett Kontaveit and Barbora Krejcikova will be playing each other. Both players have split their previous two meetings with Krejcikova winning their most recent match-up in Sydney at the start of the ongoing season.
Photo Credit: WTA Twitter