Top seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Barbora Strycova are the Brisbane International 2020 doubles champions, saving a match point in a gripping final to deny hometown favorite Ashleigh Barty and Kiki Bertens on Sunday.
The reigning Wimbledon champions bounced back from a set and a break down to prevail 3-6 7-6 (7) [10-8].
Strycova said all four women sustained a high level throughout the one-hour, 48-minute showdown.
“Kiki and Ash well done for a great week and especially for that match. I think we were playing all really great tennis, ”Strycova said.
“I’d like to thank Su-Wei, my amazing partner… Especially the match point, because she’s sometimes playing shots that I do not understand, but it’s amazing so thank you for being on my side.
“I had 10 years break from this tournament. I was always playing Auckland and I was asking myself why I did that because you guys are amazing and Brisbane you are really amazing. ”
On the eve of her home tournament, Barty pledged to donate her entire Brisbane International prize money to the Red Cross to help Australia’s bushfire relief efforts.
That came to $ A92,800 on top of the $ A30,000 she had already donated to the RSPCA.
“It’s been really great to be back on the competition court this week and I think with everything that’s been going on in Australia, the way everyone has been coming together has just been incredible,” Barty said.
CHAMPS! 🏆🏆
Hsieh Su-wei and @BaraStrycova win the #BrisbaneTennis doubles crown with a roller-coaster triumph over Ash Barty and Kiki Bertens, 3-6 7-6 (7) 10-8.
Congrats! #BrisbaneTennis #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/jFoq8FZ7QD
– #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) January 12, 2020
“All in all I’m bloody proud to be an Aussie so thank you very much everyone.”
The 22-year-old tipped her hat to the world’s top-ranked duo.
“Congratulations girls, it was a hell of a match,” Barty said.
“It set the tone for the season and it’s always good fun for me personally on the doubles court so I was very happy when my good friend Kiki agreed to play with me here in my beautiful hometown of Brisbane.
“It was a lot of fun this week so thanks mate.”
When Queenslander Barty and Dutchwoman Bertens charged through the opening set and snared early break for 2-1 in the second set, they were well on course to capture their first title together.
But momentum proved elusive for either team in a set strewn with six service breaks.
In a searching 30-shot rally in the tie-break, Hsieh was caught out on a backhand volley winner from Bertens, drawing a rousing ovation from the crowd on a packed Pat Rafter Arena.
The top seeds dug deep, saving a championship point on Hsieh’s serve and the match was all square four points later.
Hsieh and Strycova carried their momentum into the match tie-break as they raced to a 6-1 lead.
But Barty and Bertens gave a vocal crowd plenty to cheer on as they reeled off four straight points to narrow the margin to 6-5.
The Czech, Strycova, stepped up when it mattered most, charging the net off a return to pick off a forehand volley.
It brought up two championship points for the No.1 seeds and the title was theirs two points later.
