Favorites Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova take on Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara in the women’s doubles final at the 2023 Australian Open on Sunday.
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
Defending champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova have cruised into the finals of the Australian Open with some thumping wins.
In the first round, they defeated Catherine Harrison and Ulrikke Eikeri in three sets. This was the only match where the duo from the Czech Republic lost a set. In the second round, Krejcikova and Siniakova managed to ease past Alison Riske-Amritraj and Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 6-2. They had a win percentage of 80 and converted four out of the 7 break points. In the third round, Krejcikova and Siniakova outplayed Alycia Parks and Oksana Kalashnikova 6-0, 6-3. They bettered their win percentage from the first match to 87.
Siniakova and Krejcikova got the better of the 6th-seeded team of Demi Schuurs and Desirae Krawczyk in the quarterfinals. The match ended 6-2, 6-3. In the semis, Krejcikova and Siniakova made light work of Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostyuk. They won the match 6-2, 6-2 whilst playing some scintillating tennis.
Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara
The 10th-seeded duo has made it to the finals for the first time at a major. Like their upcoming opponents, Aoyama and Shibahara have also dropped just one set in the tournament thus far.
Interestingly enough, Aoyama and Shibahara lost their only set in the first round, like Siniakova and Krejcikova. They defeated the team of Xiyu Wang and Magda Linette in a closely-contested affair in the first round. In the second round, Aoyama and Shibahara managed to blow away Nadiia Kichenok and Kimberley Zimmermann 6-2, 6-2. They had a win percentage of 83 in this match. Aoyama and Shibahara got off to a fast start in the third round against the team of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Rybakina. They won the first set with ease but had to fight hard to take the second set. The match was eventually won 6-2, 7-6 (9-7).
Anna Kalinskaya and Caroline Dolehide faced Shibahara and Aoyama in the quarterfinals. The American-Russian duo was no match for Shibahara and Aoyama on the night and lost the match 3-6, 3-6. In the semifinals, Shibahara and Aoyama got the better of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) in what turned out to be an intriguing affair.
Prediction: Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova to win in three sets.
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