Krejcikova, Siniakova dominate Hsieh, Mertens and advance to SFs; Guarachi, Krawczyk stay alive at WTA Finals

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — In a battle between the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champions, No.1 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova dropped simply 4 video games to No.3 seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens, successful 6-3, 6-1, to remain undefeated on the Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara and safe a spot within the semifinals.

Now 2-0 within the El Tajín group, Krejcikova/Siniakova secured their development to the semifinals after No.6 seeds Alexa Guarachi and Desirae Krawczyk defeated No.8 seeds Sharon Fichman and Giuliana Olmos, 0-6, 6-3, [11-9]. The Czech workforce’s qualifying place can be decided on Monday when the group completes spherical robin play. 

Regardless of their twin successes this season, Saturday’s match-up between Krejcikova/Siniakova and Hsieh/Mertens was a first-time assembly, pitting the 2 successful groups from the opening spherical of group play towards one another. The Czech duo defeated Fichman/Olmos 6-4, 6-1, whereas Hsieh/Mertens prevailed 7-6(3), 6-2 over Guarachi/Krawczyk. 

Krejcikova is doing double obligation this week in Guadalajara, as the primary girl to qualify for the WTA Finals in singles and doubles since her countrywoman – and subsequent singles opponent – Karolina Pliskova in 2016. In the meantime, Siniakova can end the season at doubles No.1 pending their progress by means of the event. 

The Czechs’ resilience would in the end kind the premise for his or her dominance on Saturday. Krejcikova, who performed a tricky three-set singles match towards Garbiñe Muguruza lower than 24 hours earlier, was almost damaged in her first two service video games. However the Czech workforce dug themselves out of hassle, holding from 0-30 down twice, as Krecjikova/Siniakova gained two key deciding factors to remain unbroken early within the first set.

“Right now was a tremendous match. I believe we performed actually nice,” Siniakova mentioned. “I used to be simply making an attempt to assist Bara as a result of it is actually onerous for her and I believe she’s doing a tremendous job.”

After breaking Hsieh’s serve to guide 3-1, the Olympic champions by no means appeared again, saving all 5 break factors they confronted within the match and breaking Hsieh/Mertens 4 occasions. Regardless of Krejcikova’s fatigue, the Czechs had been the higher workforce within the clutch, successful 5 of the six deciding factors within the match. They gained 82% of their first serve factors and landed 17 winners to only 7 from Hsieh/Mertens.

“I am taking part in each single day and each single day the environment will get higher,” Krejcikova mentioned. “I have been taking part in with Katerina for a really very long time. It is very particular that we will play collectively and be actually profitable and out of doors of the court docket we could be pals and issues are figuring out for us.”

Guarachi and Krawczyk had been the one workforce who wanted a win to keep away from elimination. That appeared unlikely for a primary set through which they had been totally dominated by Fichman and Olmos. The Canadian-Mexican pair had been searching for their first win of the event and, backed by enthusiastic crowd assist, surged by means of a bagel set through which they conceded solely 9 factors.

After Guarachi and Krawczyk received a foothold within the match with improved serving, the important thing moments of the second set got here within the fifth and eight video games. At 2-2, Krawczyk confronted down two break factors on her serve, with a pointy Guarachi poach sealing the maintain. The Chilean-American duo then broke Fichman for 5-3 after Olmos netted a volley on deciding level.

The super-tiebreak got here right down to the wire, with neither workforce getting greater than two factors away from the opposite at any juncture. Finally, Guarachi and Krawczyk had been firmer at its climax, with Krawczyk placing away a smash to seal their third match level.

With Krejcikova and Siniakova by means of to the final 4, Monday’s play will discover every of the three remaining groups nonetheless in with a shot at becoming a member of them. Guarachi and Krawczyk must defeat Krejcikova and Siniakova and for Fichman and Olmos to defeat Hsieh and Mertens. Fichman and Olmos must defeat Hsieh and Mertens in straight units and for Krejcikova and Siniakova to defeat Guarachi and Krawczyk. Hsieh and Mertens can advance both by defeating Fichman and Olmos, or with a three-set loss if Krejcikova and Siniakova beat Guarachi and Krawczyk.