Jelena Ostapenko beats Barbora Krejcikova to claim first title of 2023 in Birmingham, Petra Kvitova wins Berlin Open
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Updated 25/06/2023 at 15:56 GMT
Jelena Ostapenko secured her first title of 2023 and the sixth of her career when she beat the No. 1 seed Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets, 7-6(8) 6-4, in the final of the Birmingham Classic on Sunday afternoon. The performance was enough to lift Krejcikova into the top 10 of women's tennis ahead of the 2023 Wimbledon tournament. In Berlin, Petra Kvitova beat Donna Vekic to take the title.
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Jelena Ostapenko won her first title of the season as she defeated Barbora Krejcikova at the Birmingham Classic, while Petra Kvitova won the Berlin Open.
The Latvian, seeded No. 2, defeated her No.1 seeded Czech opponent 7-6(8) 6-4 in the final.
There were no breaks in the opening set, but Ostapenko leaned on her power to give her a breakthrough in the tie-break. Krejcikova reeled her back in but ultimately could not resist her opponent.
In the second set, Ostapenko raced to a 5-1 lead that was quickly cut back to 5-4, but Krejcikova had left it took late as Ostapenko held her serve.
Both women were competing not just for the title and ranking points, but in order to ensure they arrive at Wimbledon in the coming days in the best possible form on grass.
The match took almost two hours to complete, as Ostapenko held off a second-set rally from her rival.
The win is Ostapenko’s first of the season but her sixth over the course of her career. Her last success came in Seoul, South Korea, in September 2022, and she most recently won on grass in Eastbourne two years ago.
Krejcikova’s performance in Birmingham is enough to bring her back into the top 10.
In Germany, world No. 9 Kvitova won her second title of the season after defeating world No. 23 Donna Vekic 6-2 7-6(6).
Kvitova now boasts six career grass titles going into WImbledon, where she has won twice.
The Czech player is in decent form in 2023 having already landed the Miami Open, and she has 12 wins in her last 13 on grass.
Kvitova had little trouble in the first set but was forced to a tie-break in the second.
Vekic went 3-1 up with a great forehand, but Kvitova levelled against the Croatian and then went 5-4 clear.
Vekic hit back again to tee up a set point, but it was saved, and a poor forehand from her allowed Kvitova to move onto Championship point.
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