Doubles Czech Cashed

2022 Australian Open - Day Fourteen

Women’s Doubles final:

Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova (1) (Czech Republic) v  Anna Danilina (Kazakhstan) / Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil)

Best previous doubles result at a major:

The Czech pair won the doubles championship at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2021, and Wimbledon in 2021.

They were finalists at the Australian Open in 2021, 

Beatriz Haddad Maia made the third round at Wimbledon in 2017 with Ana Konjuh

Anna Danilina first experienced GS main draw doubles at the 2021 US Open with partner Yaroslava Shvedova, losing in the first round.

Final:

Krejcikova served first, and after a scratchy 0-30 start, the team held on, thanks largely to Siniakova’s smart work around the net.

Haddad Maia served first for her team, and was convincing, forehand winners included. 1-1.

Strong returning in the Siniakova service game saw a break point emerge, and it was converted when Danilina put away a winner at the net.

2-1 to the underdogs.

At 4-3, on the serve of Danilina, a game point was wasted, and the constant pressure from the top seeds forced a break back.

4-4.

Siniakova served at 5-5, and from deuce, two unforced errors gave up a break to the others, and Danilina would serve for the set at 6-5.

Mostly unforced errors gave the break straight back and introduced a tie break.

6-0 quickly to the unseeded team, forcing errors and rattling the top seeds. Krejcikova hit a winner to save one set point, and another was saved when a backhand error was forced. A third was saved with a Siniakova backhand winner.

However an ace from Haddad Maia won her team the set 7-6(3). The first set dropped all tournament by the Czech team.

Game one of set two saw Krejcikova’s forehand winner give her team a break point, but great defence by the opposition, and a shocking overhead from Krejcikova saved it.

Still an unforced error and double fault resulted in a break anyway.

This was consolidated easily for 2-0.

Apart from the sixth game, with Krejcikova serving, missing several simple shots, and needing help to avoid a break point, the set was played out conventionally, and the top seeds levelled, winning it 6-4.

Siniakova was at the line in game four of the decider.  She struggled with a pair of double faults, and even faced a break point, but the team survived and the score was 2-2.

Krejcikova, with a forehand winner, gave the top seeds two break points in game five, following a Haddad Maia double fault and unforced error.

Another error confirmed the service break, and it was looking grim for the unseeded pair, now trailing 2-3.

Consolidation for 4-2, ending with a wonderful Krejcikova backhand winner.

Danilina faced two break points when she served in the seventh game. One was saved, but a Czech winner on the second extended the lead to 5-2, and the top seeds would serve for the match, Siniakova with the task.

The task was too much, and one of the breaks was retrieved. 3-5, and Haddad Maia to serve.

Serve held comfortably, and now Krejcikova’s turn to try and serve it out at 5-4.

A double fault at 30-15 could have made it interesting, but Krejcikova had nerves of steel, and her two forehand winners gave the match its conclusion.

The winners of 2022 Australian Open Women’s Doubles were Krejcikova and Siniakova 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4.