Krejcikova's seventh win sets stage for Daria Snigur QF
Barbora Krejcikova defeated Czech wild card Lucie Havlickova 6-4, 6-2 at the WTA Prague Open for her seventh straight win, as Daria Snigur also reached the quarterfinals and sits one victory from a top-50 debut after beating Ayla Aksu in straight sets. Five Czechs remain in the last eight on home soil.
Key Takeaways
- Krejcikova beat Havlickova 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 46 minutes for a seventh consecutive victory.
- She saved her only break point and won 77% of first-serve points against the world No. 226 wild card.
- Daria Snigur reached a third WTA quarterfinal of 2026; one more win would secure her top-50 debut.
- Krejcikova next faces qualifier Dominika Salkova after Salkova’s 6-1, 6-1 win over Oceane Dodin.
- Friday’s quarters also feature Bouzkova-Valentova, Bejlek-Tagger, and Snigur-Tararudee.
How did Krejcikova outfox Havlickova in Prague?
After a tight opening set with just one break of serve, Krejcikova dominated the second to close 6-4, 6-2 on a chilly afternoon in LiveSport Arena. The win stretched a streak that includes her Athens title—her first since Wimbledon 2024 and her ninth career trophy—leaving her three matches from a tenth.
“I’m happy I’m through, but it was a difficult, difficult match,” she said of the all-Czech clash. Krejcikova credited Havlickova’s serving, especially in the first set, and called the 21-year-old part of the future of Czech tennis. She also said she handled cool, breezy conditions well after Athens heat near 30–35C.
Match highlights are available from WTA Tennis.
Why does Daria Snigur’s quarterfinal matter?
Daria Snigur outplayed Ayla Aksu in straight sets to book her spot in the Prague last eight. It is her third WTA quarterfinal of the season, and a win over Lanlana Tararudee would lock in her top-50 debut, according to Last Word On Sports.
Tararudee reached the quarters the hard way, saving four match points after trailing 1-5 in the third set against Nikola Bartunkova in a three-hour, 14-minute battle. Their head-to-head is a first meeting. For more rising-star coverage, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders category hub.
Who else reached the Prague quarterfinals?
Five Czech players will contest Friday’s quarterfinals. Top-seeded Bouzkova faces Tereza Valentova in an all-Czech matchup. Third seed Sara Bejlek, who beat Maria Timofeeva 6-1, 6-1, meets 18-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger.
Krejcikova draws Dominika Salkova, a qualifier playing inspired tennis this week. With 12 wins in her last 14 matches and more experience than anyone left in the draw, Krejcikova is favored if she keeps returns in play against Salkova’s first-strike game.