Roundup: Krejcikova headlines all-Czech final in Prague; Krajinovic to play for first ATP title in Hamburg

MATCH POINT: Ruud books Bastad final berth

A rundown of Saturday’s results around the WTA and ATP tours.

Prague

Local fans are guaranteed to crown a home favorite after a pair of Czech competitors progressed to the title match at the Livesport Prague Open. Second seed Barbora Krejcikova continued to shine, rolling over Wang Xinyu, 6-2, 6-1. The No. 2 seed claimed 21 of 25 first-serve points and did not drop serve in the 69-minute victory. Krejcikova, up to No. 13 in the WTA rankings, has won 19 of her past 20 matches. Tereza Martincova will look to halt the French Open champion come Sunday. The No. 8 seed defeated No. 9 seed Greet Minnen, 6-3, 6-4, and like Krejcikova, has not conceded a set this week en route to making her first WTA final.

Hamburg

Sixth seed Filip Krajinovic backed up his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas by reaching his first final of 2021 at the Hamburg European Open. In an all-Serbian semifinal, Krajinovic eased past Laslo Djere, 6-4, 6-2, in one hour and 35 minutes. Krajinovic took 49 percent of his return points, breaking his countryman four times from 12 opportunities. The 29-year-old has now won all six sets he’s played against Djere, and is a victory away from stepping into the ATP winner’s circle for the first time. He awaits second seed Pablo Carreno Busta, a 7-6 (2), 6-3 winner over Argentine Federico Delbonis, in Sunday’s final at the ATP 500 event.

Budapest

Yulia Putintseva, the Hungarian Grand Prix Open’s No. 1 seed, dashed the hopes of Dalma Galfi. Putintseva battled to win, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, ending the wild card’s sensational week in the semifinals. The world No. 42 seeks her second crown against first-time WTA finalist Anhelina Kalinina. The red-hot Ukrainian, who triumphed at successive ITF events earlier this month in France, led Danielle Collins, 7-6 (5), 4-1, when the American retired with a right arm injury.

Bastad

Top seed Casper Ruud and Federico Coria are set to square off for the Nordea Open title after both advanced comfortably. Ruud dismissed Roberto Carballes Baena, 6-1, 6-4, to improve to 26-9 on the year. Nineteen of those victories have come on clay, highlighted by a title run in Geneva and semifinal showings in Monte Carlo and Madrid. The 22-year-old Norwegian seeks his third career title in a first-time meeting with Coria. The Argentine did not face a break point as he dispatched Yannick Hanfmann, 6-2, 6-1. At 29, Coria is through to his first tour-level final, having earlier knocked out No. 2 seed Cristian Garin.

Lausanne

At the Ladies Open Lausanne, No. 1 seed Tamara Zidansek and Clara Burel took different paths to the final. Zidansek, a semifinalist at Roland Garros, topped Maryna Zanevska, 7-5, 6-3. Burel spent 50 minutes more time on the court in rallying past fellow Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. Both are bidding to lift their maiden tour-level trophy.

Newport

It’s been a tough road back for two-time Grand Slam runner-up Kevin Anderson, but he’ll play for his seventh career crown at the Hall Of Fame Open. The 35-year-old took down No. 1 seed Alexander Bublik, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, firing 20 aces past the 2019 finalist. As a result of his efforts this week, Anderson will return to the Top 100. The man standing in his way Sunday? American Jenson Brooksby, who posted a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over No. 7 seed Jordan Thompson. Brooksby, playing his first grass tournament, has triumphed three times this year on the ATP Challenger Tour.