By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, January 14, 2024 Staring down a one-set, 1-3 deficit, Barbora Krejickova felt Comfortable Slam descend to Scary Sunday. Struggling to carry serve, muttering frustrations to herself, pained by a cranky ankle and going through the prospect of her sixth opening-round Grand Slam exit in 16 main appearances, Krejcikova was in no temper for crash-and-burn.
Extra: AO Girls’s Draw: High 5 Takeaways
The reigning AO doubles champion dug down, cleaned up her act on serve and accelerated by way of a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 Australian Open comeback win over difficult Japanese wild card Mai Hontama.
A draining two-and-a-half hour tug-of-war noticed main-draw debutant Hontama dictate play for the primary set-and-a-half.
On at the present time, Krejcikova’s grit and battle had been was important parts as her serve and forehand.
“it was a extremely troublesome match. I used to be set down, break down,” Krejcikova mentioned. “Robust one. I felt I wasn’t actually taking part in my greatest tennis, and I additionally felt she was taking part in very well.
“I imply, I am actually proud of the best way how I used to be capable of flip across the second set, with the best way how I switched my sport. Yeah, I imply, I believe the second set was possibly the important thing, after which I really feel within the third undoubtedly the break at 4-3 was the important thing to get the win.”
The 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles champion took a medical timeout for taping on her foot and ankle whereas up 3-2 within the last set. Krejcikova held at 15 for 4-3 then battled by way of one of many longest video games of the match, a 16-point pressure-packed occasion, changing her second break level for 5-3.
Krejcikova received eight of the final 10 factors performed on her serve to finish a comeback on a day by which the No. 122-ranked Hontama transformed six of 12 break factors.
The ninth-seeded Krejcikova will face German Tamara Korpatsch in spherical two.
Krejcikova hopes this comeback shall be a launching pad for a larger Grand Slam season than 2023.
A yr in the past, Krejcikova reached the AO fourth spherical then managed only one singles win within the last three Slams of the season. The 2-time AO doubles champion labored additional time for a well-earned win and says she’s prepared for extra.
“Properly, I really feel good. I really feel very hungry,” Krejcikova mentioned. “I actually need to be there. I actually need to battle. I actually need to get the wins, and I actually need to get again on observe and carry out nicely and get some good matches.
“I consider I am on a great way, and the plan is to simply maintain going and simply maintain attempting to get higher on daily basis.”
Picture credit score: Robert Prange/Getty
