Doubles standout and No. 5-seeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic upset top-seeded American Nicole Gibbs 6-0, 6-1 on Sunday in the singles final of the Innisbrook Open, a USTA Pro Circuit event, in Palm Harbor, Fla.
The 23-year-old Czech raised her career ITF/USTA Pro Circuit record in finals to 11-7. It was her first-ever title on U.S. soil, and her first since July of last year in Poland.
Krejcikova last year reached the No. 1 doubles ranking on the WTA tour, winning the French Open and Wimbledon titles with countrywoman Katerina Siniakova.
Gibbs dropped to 7-10 in career ITF/USTA Pro Circuit finals, appearing in her first since winning this past February at Rancho Santa Fe in New Mexico.
“There was an opportunity for an event like this,” Innisbrook Director of Tennis Joe Mattingly told the Tampa Bay Times about the first-time event. “I just had to get my foot in the door and get the date that I wanted. I really wanted the date after (the) Miami (Open). The whole thinking there was the girls who didn’t get into the 32-draw in Charleston would come to Innisbrook.”
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The tournament also held a seniors exhibition featuring John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake and Mardy Fish.
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In the doubles final No. 4-seeded Americans Quinn Gleason of Notre Dame and Ingrid Neel of the University of Florida won their first title as a team, beating the unseeded team of Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Lizette Cabrera of Australia 5-7, 7-5, 10-8.
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For more info on USTA Pro Circuit events go to www.usta.com.
