By Tennis Now | Tuesday, September 25, 2018

 

Katerina Siniakova saved match point dethroning defending Wuhan champion Caroline Garcia, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to set up a clash vs. Garbine Muguruza.

Photo credit: SiniakovaKaterina.com

A deep deficit didn't scare Katerina Siniakova.

It fired her up.

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Staring down a match point in the second set, Siniakova surged through a spirited comeback to dethrone defending Wuhan champion Caroline Garcia, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) in a gripping three-hour epic at the Wuhan Open.

Siniakova converted seven of 11 break-point chances and committed 19 fewer unforced errors than Garcia, who hit 56 unforced errors in the match.

The Czech qualifier has won all three tiebreak sets she's played this week, including conquering Kristina Mladenovic, 7-6 (4), 6-2, in the opening round.

"For sure it was really a tough match and exciting," Siniakova said. "I was trying to fight from the beginning. I was up and down in my game so I'm happy in the end I won."

It is Siniakova's second career Top 5 victory and her first win over a Top 5-ranked opponent this season.

The 22-year-old Czech defeated the fourth-ranked Frenchwoman for the third time in five meetings.

"I'm really happy," Siniakova said. "I think it's really good for me to play amore and more matches. It's a good win and I'm just really excited about it."

The reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon doubles champion advanced to a third-round showdown with former French Open and Wimbledon singles champion Garbine Muguruza.

The former world No. 1 crushed Viktorija Golubic 6-0, 6-1 earlier today.

A year ago, Garcia stormed through Asia on an 11-match tear winning Wuhan and Beijing back-to-back.

She was in prime position to extend her streak today holding the one set lead with a match point in the second. Siniakova began smacking her groundstrokes with more vigor and depth and hit her backhand down the line with ambition squeezing out the second set.

Running right, Siniakova smacked a running forehand to extend the point, eventually drawing an error to break for the seventh time and snatch a 5-4 lead in the decider.

Serving for the match, Siniakova was two points from victory at 30-15, but Garcia drew a netted forehand for break point. Firing a forehand off the baseline to back up Siniakova up, Garcia blasted a backhand winner crosscourt breaking back for 5-5.

A brilliant backhand down the line gave the Czech a 3-2 lead and when the champion scattered a couple of shots Siniakova stretched her lead to 5-2.

Battering a backhand crosscourt brought Siniakova to match point and she closed on an errant return.