Danilina and Krunic's Doha Triumph: A Tale of Resilience and Comeback
Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic, the dynamic duo, defied the odds and claimed the Qatar TotalEnergies Open title in a thrilling display of resilience. The No. 4 seeds mounted a remarkable comeback from a 6-0, 5-2 deficit, saving match point to defeat the No. 3 seeds, Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko, in a nail-biting 1 hour and 34 minutes.
This victory marked a turning point in their partnership, as they earned their first WTA 1000 title and their second overall. Krunic, in a post-match interview, described the match as a rollercoaster, highlighting the challenges they faced.
"It was a very weird match with a lot of ups and downs from all four of us," she said. "It was tough to play today, somehow. So I'm just happy we managed to stay there and grab our chances."
Danilina and Krunic's journey to the final was not without its hurdles. They entered the championship with a 1-5 record in finals, facing the prospect of an 0-6 start. The first set was a one-sided affair, with Hsieh and Ostapenko dominating from the start, breaking for 2-0 and never looking back.
However, the turning point came in the second set. Danilina and Krunic broke for a 2-1 lead, only to drop four straight games, falling behind 5-2. But their determination shone through as they rallied, converting a break and holding to level at 5-all. They then broke Hsieh's serve to love for the second time, taking a 6-5 lead.
The match reached a tiebreak, where Danilina and Krunic's resilience prevailed, winning the last four points to secure the set and force a match tiebreak. In the third set, they showcased their tactical prowess, winning five straight points for an 8-3 lead, only to be pushed back to 8-7. Ultimately, they converted their second match point, claiming the dramatic title.
The path to victory was a testament to their endurance. They had already faced match tiebreaks in the second round and quarterfinals, emerging victorious with identical 6-2, 4-6, [10-4] scorelines. The semifinals saw them at their best, defeating the No. 5 seeds in straight sets. Saturday's final, however, tested their mettle once again.
Danilina and Krunic's comeback was a fitting end to a week of intense battles. They broke a perceived curse, as Krunic humorously noted their history of falling short in finals. This triumph marked a significant milestone in their careers, with both players enjoying success on the doubles circuit.
Danilina now boasts 12 WTA doubles titles, including the 2023 US Open mixed doubles championship and three women's doubles Grand Slam runner-up titles. She also has two WTA 1000 titles under her belt. Krunic, on the other hand, celebrates her ninth WTA doubles title and her first singles title. This victory stands as her biggest career achievement.
The rankings will reflect their newfound success, with both players set to reach new career highs. Krunic is projected to rise to World No. 11, inching closer to a Top 10 debut, while Danilina is poised to improve her career-best mark by one spot, moving up to No. 7. Hsieh and Ostapenko, too, will climb the rankings, re-entering the Top 10 at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.
