Heading into the first-round match of the Singapore Open between Barbora Krejcikova and Anna-Lena Friedsam, one might assume that the Czech player would sweep through easily. After all, Krejcikova had won multiple singles titles, including two Grand Slams. The 32-year-old Friedsam had never won any singles title.
But tennis has a way of equalizing things. If a player comes out flat or is injured, an opponent at the professional level can take advantage. That didn't appear to be going to happen based on the first set, though.
Krejcikova breezed through that without dropping a game, pushing the German around the court as if Krejcikova were playing a practice match. She was seemingly going to reach the second round in record time and have a nice rest before having to play again.
Barbora Krejcikova pushes past Anna-Lena Friedsam in the first round of the Singapore Open
Not so fast, though. Friedsam kept extending points in the second set, fighting back to keep herself in the match. At 3-2, she got a break of the Czech but then couldn't hold serve at 5-4 as Krejcikova evened the set. That wouldn't last long as Friedsam got another break at 6-5 and, stunningly, the match was going three sets.
Krejcikova, with her easy power and precision, got the first break to get a 3-2 lead, but was then broken herself in the next game. She appeared to be struggling with a slight injury and wasn't moving quite as well. At 4-3, the German got her second break of the set and just needed to hold serve to pull off the upset.
That wouldn't be easy, however. Krejcikova had several break points, but once against Friedsam fought back. The crowd was firmly behind her at this point, sensing that the German was on the cusp of getting arguably the biggest win of her long career.
The Czech was able to get the break back, though, after facing two match points. A tense match was right where it should be, with Krejicokova serving at 4-5 and the set trending toward a tie-break.
The path to the tie-break wouldn't be straightforward either, however. Krejcikova held and then got a break, and all she needed to do at 6-5 was hold serve. She couldn't. After a series of unforced errors, maybe partly from being tired, she was broken, and the set did indeed need a breaker to decide who would move into the second round.
While Krejcikova kept taking more chances than Friedsam, it did eventually pay off. She took the tie-break 7-4.
Barbora Krejcikova will next face fourth seed Elise Mertens in the second round. Whoever wins could face top seed Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals at the 2026 Singapore Open, and potentially Alex Eala in the final.
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