(Tennis news) The first semifinal at Sydney Tennis Classic saw the clash between the world number 4 and 7. The encounter saw 12 match points in the final set as Barbora Krejcikova and Anett Kontaveit lit the court on fire as the match was among the best on the WTA tour. Kontaveit began the first set as the crowd did not even settle even when she bageled her opponent in 26 minutes.

It was a tragic start for the 2021 Roland Garros winner, she improved in the second set as a backhand winner of Kontaveit’s second serve gave the crucial break in the 9th game. It was the only break in the set but it was all that Krejcikova needed to level the score. The final set saw the players sharpening their groundstrokes even after 2 hours, Krejcikova saved three match points while serving at 5-6 to take it for a tiebreak and then Kontaveit saved two match points in the tiebreak to make it 6 all. The tie break had 25 points in all which took almost half an hour to complete when the Estonian hit a forehand long to end her run at Sydney. Krejcikova defeated Kontaveit 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(14-12).

"I think from both sides it was a really, really tough match," Krejcikova said, in her post-match press conference. "I think we played wonderful tennis. It was very, very tight, and I'm really happy that I was able to hold my nerves better and that I won this match.

In the second semifinal, it was in-form Daria Kasatkina versus world number 9 Paula Baodsa. They both last played in 2013 in European Junior Championships in Moscow where Kasatkina had won the match. The former world number 10 had made the semifinals at melbourne earlier as Badosa had lost the opening match here a week ago.

Both the players have a similar playing style as they wait for the ball a bit after the bounce but Badosa did not wait for a breakthrough in the match as she won the first 3 games in 8 minutes. Kasatkina got her first game when she hit a forehand lob to break the Spaniard’s serve to make it 1-4 and then held her serve to make it two in a row. Badosa then won the next two games with her backhand dominating the winning shots.

In the second set, Kasatkina was left behind when she lost the first five games as Badosa was only a game away from victory. The Russian had to defend two match points on her serve and took the risk to win her first game of the set, she then broke Badosa’s serve with three nerve-wracking forehands for her second consecutive game. The crowd was getting mentally prepared for a second epic semifinal but then Badosa denied a second inspiring comeback at Sydney to enter the final. Badosa defeated Kasatkina 6-2, 6-2.

Also read: Kasatkina reaches second semi final in 2 weeks at Sydney Tennis Classic