‘I see what she’s doing and I want to do the same thing’ – Dubai champion Krejcikova praises defeated Swiatek

Barbora Krejcikova came into the Dubai final with a perfect game plan to defeat the dominant world No 1 Iga Swiatek.

But as soon as the match was over, she murmured words of praise to her opponent at the net – and then expanded on her admiration for the Pole during her press conference.

“She’s No 1. She has more than 10,000 points. She’s winning everything. She had [an] amazing streak last year. I mean, this year also. Last week she played amazing. This week I saw her matches, she was in a really good shape, a really good form.

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“It’s great if I get opportunity to practise with her because she’s just so dedicated to tennis. She gives every single time 100%.

“It’s amazing that in such a young age she has mind, like, really clear for what she wants, she’s able to achieve that. I have so much respect for her, as I already said it on the court.

“She is just a big motivation. She’s just a big motivation, like I see what she’s doing and I want to do the same thing.”

Krejcikova: Dubai is where everything started for me

The Czech, who suffered from injury during 2022, will be back inside the top 20 of the WTA rankings this coming week – and she noted that her run to the Dubai final in 2021 kick-started a run of success that culminated in the Roland-Garros title.

“It’s always nice to win a tournament, especially such a big tournament also in Dubai. I was here in finals couple years ago. It’s a tournament that everything started for me in singles.

“Very, very special place. Definitely I’m going to have this in my mind throughout the season. I will just try to get better again, try to get to these finals and these big matches which I love.”

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