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Marie Bouzkova, 25, became visibly emotional after losing the Nanchang final but congratulated Katerina Siniakova on the impressive comeback she created. Bouzkova, who was seeded at No 3, was up by a set and a break before Siniakova stormed back to win 1-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4).
En route to creating a comeback, Siniakova also saved three match points. After Bouzkova easily won the first set and also went up by a break in the second set, it seemed that the 25-year-old would clinch a routine straight-set win.
In the end, Bouzkova missed out on collecting her first title of the year. “I don’t know if I’m able to talk. Congrats to Katerina for an amazing match. You fought til the end. To finish the season like that. For myself, it’s been a tough season.
To finish like that is something that had to happen. I’m grateful for the people I have around that support me every day. It wasn’t meant to be today. There’s no other way but to keep going," Bouzkova said after the final.
Bouzkova missed out on a match point against Siniakova
In the first set, Bouzkova broke Siniakova three times to easily win the opener. Bouzkova also started the second set with a break but got broken back in the second game.
In the fifth game, Bouzkova broke Siniakova again and later had a 5-3 lead after the eight games of the second set. In the ninth game of the second set - when Siniakova was serving to stay in the match - Bouzkova didn't convert her first match point.
Then, Bouzkova failed to serve out for the match in the 10th game as Siniakova managed to get the break back and ultimately force a tie-break. In the second-set tie-break, Siniakova had a 6-2 lead before converting her fourth set point to send the match into a decider.
In the third set, Bouzkova had a 5-3 and two consecutive match points on her serve - but didn't convert. The third set also went into a tie-break, where Siniakova realized her first match point to complete a three-set win over Bouzkova.