In a gripping second-round clash at the WTA 500 Korea Open, Barbora Krejcikova delivered yet another signature comeback. The Czech star saved three match points and outlasted Emma Raducanu in a near three-hour thriller, rallying to a 4-6, 7-6(12), 6-1 victory. The win propels Krejcikova into the quarterfinals and sets the stage for a high-voltage showdown with World No.1 Iga Swiatek—while Raducanu is left ruing missed chances in a match she had within her grasp.
Krejcikova Pulls Off Another Unbelievable Escape
After dropping the first set and trailing 2-5 in the second, the former Roland Garros champion clawed her way back, saving three match points in a tense 22-point tiebreak. Let’s relive that tiebreak here:
| Pt | Server | Result | Score | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raducanu | Hold | 0–1 | Raducanu starts solid. |
| 2 | Krejcikova | Lost serve | 0–2 | Early mini-break to Raducanu. |
| 3 | Krejcikova | Hold | 1–2 | Czech gets on the board. |
| 4 | Raducanu | Hold | 1–3 | Keeps early edge. |
| 5 | Raducanu | Lost serve | 2–3 | Mini-break back for Krejcikova. |
| 6 | Krejcikova | Lost serve | 2–4 | Swing back Raducanu’s way. |
| 7 | Krejcikova | Lost serve | 2–5 | Double mini-break lead Raducanu! |
| 8 | Raducanu | Lost serve | 3–5 | Raducanu still in control. |
| 9 | Raducanu | Lost serve | 4–5 | Krejcikova crawls back! |
| 10 | Krejcikova | Hold | 5–5 | And levels! |
| 11 | Krejcikova | Hold | 6–5 | Cruises to 1st Set Point. |
| 12 | Raducanu | Hold | 6–6 | Set point saved by Emma. |
| 13 | Raducanu | Hold | 6–7 | MP Raducanu! |
| 14 | Krejcikova | Hold | 7–7 | Barbora saves match point. |
| 15 | Krejcikova | Hold | 8–7 | 2nd SP Krejcikova. |
| 16 | Raducanu | Hold | 8–8 | Denied again |
| 17 | Raducanu | Hold | 8–9 | 2nd breaker MP Raducanu! |
| 18 | Krejcikova | Hold | 9–9 | Saves MP! |
| 19 | Krejcikova | Hold | 10–9 | 3rd SP Krejcikova! |
| 20 | Raducanu | Hold | 10–10 | Saved again. This is 11 holds of serve in a row from both players combined! |
| 21 | Raducanu | Lost serve | 11–10 | 4th SP Krejcikova! |
| 22 | Krejcikova | Hold | 12–10 | Czech converts to take the set!! |
So, the Brit couldn’t close the door, missing a match point at 5-3 in the second set and two more in the tiebreak. Krejcikova pounced on the momentum swing, winning the tiebreak 12-10 to steal the set—and Raducanu’s spirit.
Krejcikova’s Resurgence Gains Momentum
Krejcikova, now ranked No.34 and climbing, turned up the heat in the third set, winning 66% of total points and 93% on her first serve. She reeled off five straight games to clinch the win, capitalizing on Raducanu’s 44% first-serve win rate in the decider. With her form and fitness clicking, Krejcikova is quietly reasserting herself as a force on tour, especially with another Swiatek test on deck.