Siniakova stops Fernandez win streak

Katerina Siniakova brought the eight-match win streak of Leylah Fernandez to a halt on Saturday as she dropped the Canadian 7-5, 6-4 to reach the WTA final in Nanchang, China.

The win in two and three-quarter hours reversed the outcome of last weekend’s Hong Kong final won by Fernandez over her Czech rival.

Sunday’s Chinese final will wrap up the WTA’s annual Far East swing as the Tour returns briefly to Europe before the year-end finals in Mexico.

Siniakova will bid for the title against compatriot Marie Bouzkova, a winner over Diana Schnaider 7-6 (5), 6-2.

The last time a pair of Czechs played for a title was July, 2021, when Barbora Krejcikova beat Tereza Martincova in Prague.

“I was down pretty much the whole time in the first set and she was just hitting winners everywhere,” Bouzkova said. 

“I just tried to stick to my game and be solid, and somehow I turned it around.”

Siniakova will aim for her second trophy of 2023 after winning Bad Homburg on summer grass in Germany.

“It was a really tough battle,” the winner said. “Last week [in Hong Kong] it was totally different conditions.

“Here it was a little bit slower; it suits me more because she plays really fast and does not step back. I’m really excited I won.”

Main photo:- Katerina Siniakova by Anne Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd