Reigning Wimbledon champions Kateruna Siniakova and Taylor Townsend saved a match point to beat Lyudmila Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko 3-6 6-3 10-6 in the Green Group of the doubles tournament at the WTA Finals in Ryadh.
Kichenok and Ostapenko led by a set and a break to build up a 6-3 1-0 lead, but Siniakova and Townsend broke twice in a row to win the second set 6-3 setting up a match tie-break.
Kichenok slammed an overhead winner to earn a match point at 9-8, but she misfired long on a backhand.
Siniakova hit an overhead to earn her team their first match point at 10-9. Siniakova and Townsend sealed the win when Kichenok hit the net after a long rally.
“It means a lot for me to be my first WTA Finals in my career. I have been on tour for 11 years, so it’s a huge accomplishment for me to be able to have a child and come back and be on this stage”, said Tonsend.
