Barbora Krejcikova won the Dubai Tennis Championships final on Saturday, defeating an out-of-sorts Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-2.
This brought an end to the top-ranked Pole’s winning streak. The Middle East swing allowed Krejcikova to win her first WTA title since 2023 and her sixth overall.
Krejcikova was ranked number one in the world. It means a lot to me. I was getting better in every game during this fantastic week.
With her victory, former world number two Krejcikova became only the fifth player to defeat the world’s top three at the same event.
She broke in the first game with a crushing crosscourt backhand winner, and she continued her dominance.
Swiatek was able to draw level at 3-3 thanks to a loose game. But her Czech opponent, who won the Roland Garros title in 2021 and is a fellow Grand Slam champion. Immediately hit back with aggressive ball striking and lost her serve.
As Swiatek struggled to contain the unforced errors, Krejcikova won the next game to love. The 27-year-old held firm to win the opening set when Swiatek sent a forehand long.
Swiatek, the Doha champion, was down 4-2. Krejcikova took control of the match in the second set after dropping the first set in the previous two weeks.
Krejcikova, who advanced to the semifinals after defeating third-ranked Jessica Pegula and Australian Open champion and world number two Aryna Sabalenka, won the match on serve to join an elite club.
Only Sabalenka, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, and Venus Williams have defeated the top three players in the same tournament.
Krejcikova, who won her first WTA 1000 title, said, “It’s a huge achievement.” I was having a great time at each and every match. I enjoy playing on big courts with a great atmosphere.
I hope I’ll be involved in more matches like this.” When the rankings are updated on Monday, Krejcikova is expected to rise from number 30 to number 16.