Ostapenko Takes Birmingham Title Over Krejcikova

Jelena Ostapenko held off a late charge from Barbora Krejcikova to win the Birmingham title 7-6(8), 6-4.

“Just to fight for every single point, and to play until the very last point, because some matches I was down, but I managed to win them,” Ostapenko said to the WTA. “I’m just really proud of myself the way I fought. That’s probably the key which brought me the title here.”

In this battle of former French Open champions, neither could convert break point chances in the first and the Czech failed to convert a set point in the breaker. In the second, Ostapenko was well on her way to a sixth career title lead 5-1 in the second before Krejcikova mounted a late surge winning three straight games.

Ostapenko, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, wins her 6th career title equaling Krejcikova’s career haul. This was Ostapenko’s 14th career final and first since last fall.

She also now leads Krejcikova 5-2 in their head-to-head.

During the week, Ostapenko had four straight three set wins until today’s final. And in the second round she ousted 5-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.