Krueger 1st title Japan Open

Final day in Osaka.

2023 Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, a WTA 250 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Osaka, Japan, 11-17 September 2023.

Tournament last held in 2019. 

2020 and 2021 cancelled due to COVID, and 2022 cancelled for financial reasons.

Defending champion (2019):

Nao Hibino who defeated Misaki Doi 6-3 6-2

Final:

Zhu Lin (1) (China) v Ashlyn Krueger (USA)

First meeting between the players.

First WTA Tour level final for Krueger.

Krueger broke serve in the second game of the final to lead 2-0.

She saved a break point in the fourth game and held for 3-1.

No more break chances in the set, which Krueger served out 6-3.

No break points faced in set two, neither player even taken to deuce, and a tie break was required.

In the first six points each player lost a point on serve and it was 3-3.

Th next two points were lost to the server. 4-4.

At 5-5, Krueger lost a point on serve, leaving Zhu Lin to serve for the set.

She failed and it was 6-6.

Zhu Lin lost the next two points and that ended the contest.

Ashlyn Krueger won 6-3 7-6(6) and claimed her first WTA Tour level title in her first final.