Siniakova saves match points in Nanchang, wins longest final of 2023

Katerina Siniakova executes a remarkable comeback at the Jiangxi Open, securing her fifth career singles title. She saves three championship points before prevailing over her fellow Czech player, Marie Bouzkova, in a thrilling final that ends with a score of 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) on Sunday.

Spanning a duration of 3 hours and 33 minutes, this match becomes the first final of the season to surpass the three-hour mark and ranks as the sixth longest match of the year overall.

Photo galleries: Winning from match point down in 2023 | All of 2023’s three-hour matches

In a press interview after her victory, Siniakova expresses her elation and pride in her perseverance, stating, “It was a really tough and big battle. I’m really excited and proud I kept fighting until the end.

“It’s really tough, and sad that just one can win because both of us just left everything out there.”

Siniakova overcomes a deficit in both the second and third sets to claim her second singles title of the year. She previously triumphed at the Bad Homburg tournament on grass in June and was a finalist in Hong Kong last week.

Classic between countrywomen: Sunday’s championship match marks the first all-Czech final since Barbora Krejcikova defeated Tereza Martincova in the Czech capital of Prague back in the summer of 2021.

The latest all-Czech final proves to be an arduous affair, ultimately resulting in Siniakova’s victory over 29th-ranked Bouzkova. Siniakova has now won both of their career meetings, including a win over Bouzkova in the first round of the 2021 Roland Garros.

Despite its length, this thrilling match does not break the record for the longest final in WTA history. That honor belongs to the 1990 Virginia Slims Championships, where Monica Seles defeated Gabriela Sabatini in a five-set battle lasting 3 hours and 47 minutes.

Match moments: No.3 seed Bouzkova starts strong, exhibiting great defense and committing few errors to establish a 6-1, 4-2 lead on Sunday. However, Siniakova matches Bouzkova in terms of rally endurance, exemplified by an 83-second rally won by Bouzkova at 4-3, as she begins to stage her comeback.

Siniakova saves a championship point on her serve at 5-3 in the second set and eventually takes a 6-5 lead, holding four set points. However, Bouzkova manages to erase all those set points in a lengthy game, resulting in a second-set tiebreak.

During the tiebreak, Siniakova consistently finds the corners of the court, taking a 6-2 lead and earning four more set points. She capitalizes on each one, with Bouzkova hitting a forehand long on Siniakova’s eighth set point. The second set alone lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Despite squandering a 3-1, 40-0 advantage in the third set, Bouzkova manages to secure another break at 5-3, holding two more championship points. However, Siniakova once again rallies, winning three consecutive games to serve for the title at 6-5.

Video: Two gripping rallies end Siniakova’s win

Bouzkova breaks Siniakova’s serve, forcing a decisive final-set tiebreak. However, Siniakova stages a comeback from 2-0 down, ultimately clinching her first championship point with a down-the-line winner to make it 6-4. The match concludes when Siniakova’s backhand clips the netcord and falls over, ending the marathon battle.

Double delight for Siegemund and Zvonareva: Earlier in the day, No.2 seeds Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva claim victory in the Jiangxi Open doubles final. They defeat No.4 seeds Eri Hozumi and Makoto Ninomiya with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

Siegemund and Zvonareva secure the final spot at the season-ending GNP Seguros WTA Finals in Cancun after their 1-hour and 38-minute triumph. This victory marks their third title together this year.

35-year-old Siegemund celebrates her 13th career doubles title, while 39-year-old Zvonareva adds her 15th career doubles title. The veterans joined forces for the first time at the 2020 US Open, where they claimed the title. They also reached the final of this year’s US Open as a team.