(2023) Title triumph Alexandrova after cracker

The winner of Libéma Open 2023 listens to the name Ekaterina Alexandrova for the second year in a row. In a true thriller, the fourth seed came back from a set and a break deficit against first seed Veronika Kudermetova: 4-6 6-4 7-6(3).

Before getting into the decisive tiebreak, the 28-year-old Alexandrova got three match points, but opponent Kudermetova managed to stay on her feet time and again to prolong the blood-curdling match. In the tiebreak, the world number 26 did not relinquish a lead. After 2 hours and 52 minutes of tennis, the emotional Alexandrova finally fell to her knees when a ball from her opponent disappeared into the net.

The match, which started later due to rain and was interrupted more than once, was a repeat of last year’s semi-final. Until this year’s final, the fourth seed had won the last 18 sets she played on the Brabant grass, counting her title campaign last year.

The win marks the fourth WTA title for Alexandrova and the first time she has managed to prolong a title.