Barbora Krejcikova Clutch in Parma

Photo by Llaria Piccaglia. Used under fair use.

At the Parma Open, two time singles Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova survived a major scare against Anna Lena Friedsam in a thrilling three set battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Krejcikova claimed the match 6 2, 6 7(2), 6 2 after an intense second set tiebreak gave Friedsam hope of a comeback. The contest quickly turned into a popcorn thriller filled with momentum swings, long rallies, and pressure moments from start to finish.

The Czech star sealed the victory by winning 77 percent of her first serve points and an impressive 76 percent of her second serve points. Her ability to mix pace, angles, and touch shots highlighted the all court variety that helped her capture Grand Slam titles on both grass and clay.

After losing the second set, Krejcikova’s experience enabled her to take full control of the decider. She raised her level at the perfect time and dominated the third set 6-2 with composed baseline play and smart serving under pressure.

Friedsam pushed her all the way and refused to back down, but Krejcikova’s composure and championship pedigree ultimately proved decisive in the closing set. The victory gives the former Slam champion an important confidence boost for the quarterfinals as she looks win the Parma title. Barbora told me specifically "it is important to play your best tennis leading up to a grand slam."

Ricky Boone is a law student, published author, and tennis journalist for Tennisinaminute.com