Krejcikova edges out Rybakina to reach final in Ostrava; plays Swiatek or Alexandrova

Czech Barbora Krejcikova edged out Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to move into the final of the Ostrava Open at the Ostravar Aréna on Saturday afternoon.

Former French Open champion Krejcikova, ranked No 23, will face the winner of the match between Pole Iga Swiatek, the world No 1, and Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova next. The winner last week in Tallinn, Krejcikova has now won eight straight matches.

Rybakina hit 17 aces but was denied by the persistence of Krejcikova, who also served superbly, winning 82 percent of points behind her first serve.

The Czech won against American Shelby Rogers (6-2, 6-2), Swiss Belinda Bencic, the No 6 seed (W/O) and American qualifier Alycia Parks (7-6 (7), 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds of the Ostrava, Rybakina, ranked No 26, defeated American Madison Keys (5-7, 6-3, 6-3), Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5) and Czech wildcard Petra Kvitova (7-6 (5), 6-4).

Ostrava WTA 500, other semi-final result (Ostravar Aréna, hard, USD 757.900):

• Iga Swiatek vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova