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Barbora Krejcikova won this year's first WTA 1000 event, beating Iga Swiatek in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships. She had beaten Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula prior to the summit clash, thus becoming only the fifth woman in WTA history to beat the top 3 in a single tournament.
However, recent discussions on social media about the top players in women's tennis have often excluded Krejcikova, much to her chagrin.
Speaking to the WTA after reaching the fourth round of the ongoing Miami Open, Krejcikova pointed out how Swiatek, Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have been dominating the top player conversations. For the record, these three players are the winners of the last three Slams - Rybakina taking Wimbledon, Swiatek winning the US Open and Sabalenka reigning supreme at the Australian Open.
But Barbora Krejcikova reckons she has done enough to warrant being mentioned alongside them. The former World No. 2 claimed that the media never gives her due credit despite all her achievements over the years.
"When I read something on social media, it's about Iga, Aryna, and Elena -- I'm not really there. What else should I do? How should I prove it again? This week, again I'm here and I'm going to prove it again so that I get into this Top 3," Barbora Krejcikova said. "I want to be mentioned as well. I want to be recognized as well because I think I deserve it. I've had a lot of success on the tour and I just don't get the credit."
Breaking the so-called 'Big-3' into the 'Big-4,' much like what Andy Murray did to the trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in their prime years, is a big motivation for the 27-year-old. A nine-time women's doubles Grand Slam champion, Krejcikova is a singles Major champion as well, having won the 2021 French Open.
The Czech admitted that Swiatek, Rybakina and Sabalenka have all been playing exceptional tennis of late. But she went on to question why the media did not give her the same praise when she was doing just that herself too.
"It's a big motivation. I don't want to be forgotten somewhere in the shade of these three big players. They are playing well and are playing great, but I feel I'm playing well as well," Barbora Krejcikova said. "I feel like I deserve the recognition from the media and I'm not getting it. I guess I just have to win more matches and prove to everybody that I'm there as well."
Aryna Sabalenka, who is set to take on Barbora Krejcikova next at the Miami Open, acknowledged the World No. 13's complaints. Sabalenka opined that Krejcikova belongs in the same discussion as Swiatek, Rybakina and herself.
"I was thinking the same, why everyone is saying it's three of us? No, it's four of us," Sabalenka said. "She's doing really well and playing really consistently. It's four of us, I would say. I really want to see it keep going. I think we're all going to do what we can to keep it going."
"Her tennis is really interesting and I like to play against her" - Barbora Krejcikova on facing Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open
Barbora Krejcikova handed Aryna Sabalenka her first loss of the season enroute to her title in Dubai. She spoke about her upcoming meeting with the Belarusian, lavishing praise on her brand of aggressive tennis.
At the same time, the former French Open champion believes she has a good chance of beating Sabalenka for the second time in 2023. Krejcikova claimed that her own game has been constantly improving to be able to keep up with the Belarusian.
"I'm very excited. She's on top of the game right now. She's the last Slam champion. Her tennis is really interesting and I like to play against her because her shots are one of the fastest ones and the same with her serve and return," Barbora Krejcikova said.
"She's very aggressive. It's a really nice opportunity to play because I feel that my tennis is also improving and I feel like I have a big shot, a big chance against her," she added.
