Swiss qualifier Jil Teichman edged Czech wild card Karolina Muchova 7-6 3-6 6-4 in 2 hours and 44 minutes at the J&T Banka Prague Open to lift her maiden title in her first appearance in a WTA Final.
It was a remarkable result for Teichman, who never reached a quarter final before this week. The Swiss player fought back from a break down twice in the third set.
Both players traded four breaks in the first six games. Muchova saved a total of five break points, but the first set went on serve until the 12th game, when Muchova fended off three set points setting up a tie-break. Teichman sealed the first set 7-5 on her sixth set point.
Muchova broke serve in the second and sixth games and fended off a break point at 5-3 to close out the second set. The Czech player went up a break twice at 2-0 and 3-2 in the third set. Teichman broke back in the sixth game. She held two service games at love and sealed the third set with a break in the final game of the match.
Teichman has become the 20th WTA Tour champion from 21 tournaments played in 2019.
“I am just speechless, honestly. I just fought and fought. It was a great battle and I am just relieved that it’s done. I am exhausted, but Kaja played a great match. I knew it was going to be a battle, but in the end one has to win”, said Teichman.
