Semi finals in Prague

Semi final day in Prague..

J&T Banka Prague Open - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Prague, Czech Republic,  27 April - 4 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Petra Kvitová (2) who defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu (7) 4-6 6-2 6-3

- Barbora Strycova (9) v qualifier Jil Teichmann

The pair were meeting for the first time, with Strycova the only remaining seed and on home country turf.

Teichmann served first, and Strycova hit a forehand winner. However Teichmann hit two of her own and held comfortably. Strycova missed with a forehand, but a put away at the net gave her 30-15. A Swiss backhand winner and 30-30. Break point after a long forehand from Strycova. A Czech backhand error gave Teichmann a 2-0 lead.

40-15 to Teichmann after two forehand winners and a Strycova error. A pair of Strycova forehand winners brought it to deuce, but Teichmann won the day with another winning forehand included. 3-0 in a bright opening.

Strycova held for 1-3, then had four chances to break the Swiss serve, after Teichmann again let slip a 40-15 lead.

The break points were all saved,  #1 with a wide Strycova backhand, #2 with a backhand winner, #3 with a backhand winner, #4 wirh a Strycova mistake. Serve was held for 4-1.  Strycova saved two more break points to hold and trail 2-4.  Disappointed at not capitalising on the break chances, Teichmann didn’t waver, holding to love, based on a trio of Strycova errors and topped off with an ace.

At 2-5 and deuce, Strycova was only two points from dropping the opening set. She held on gamely, but Teichmann then went to the line, serving for the set. Strycova was forced into error and was behind 30-0. Teichmann put away a winner at the net, a point set up by stretching Strycova wide with a forehand. Three set points.  Doubt fault and backhand error saw two disappear. Another mistake and deuce. A wide return gave Teichmann a fourth set point which was taken with a put away at the net. 6-3 Teichmann.

Set two was all Teichmann, who won 12 of 13 points on her serve, and 12 of 17 on her opponents delivery. This translated into three breaks of serve and a 6-0 embarrassment for Strycova.

Jil Teichmann, who won through qualifying, defeated Strycova 6-3 6-0, to reach her first WTA Tour final.

- Wildcard Karolina Muchova defeated Bernarda Pera 6-2 7-5, and will play Jil Teichmann in the final.