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Anett Kontaveit WTA Kremlin Cup 2021
Tennis News, Tennis Tournaments, WTA Tennis Players

Anett Kontaveit conquers Aleksandra Krunic to pile WTA Finals pressure onto Ons Jabeur


Anett Kontaveit has hit an impressive vein of form late in the WTA season as she increases her indoor hard court win streak to 11.

The Estonian is the second seed at this week’s Transylvania Open in Romania. The tournament immediately follows her triumph at the WTA 500 Kremlin Cup.

Across her last two indoor events, the Kremlin Cup and Ostrava Open, Kontaveit has won 10 consecutive matches to clinch two titles in a month.

Now, the world number 14 has backed up her Russian title by winning her opening tie in Romania.

Kontaveit defeated qualifier Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the second round of the WTA 250 event.

With the WTA season approaching its conclusion, Kontaveit is currently 10th in the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals.

After claiming the Kremlin Cup title, the Estonian leapt from 15th to 10th in the race, joining the tour Finals discussion.

With Ashleigh Barty absent this year, finishing ninth would be enough to qualify for the event in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Following this victory, Kontaveit now trails ninth place Ons Jabeur by just 139 ranking points. Should The Estonian reach the final in Romania, she would overtake Jabeur by 11 points.

However, if Kontaveit were to win the title, she would gain enough ranking points to qualify for the Finals outright.

In addition, Jabeur was set to compete in the simultaneous Courmayeur Ladies Open, worth 280 ranking points to the champion.

However, the Tunisian world number eight withdrew prior to the event due to injury, presenting Kontaveit with the opportunity to surpass the Arab star.

Kontaveit will next take on Alison Van Uytvanck for a place in the quarter-finals.


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