“She plays a well-rounded game. She fights for every point and she is focused all the while. It can get really tough to handle such an opponent especially in such a long match,” Cirstea said, quoted by Gulf News.

“To my good fortune I fought hard and just stayed in the match. This gives me great hope heading into a final against an opponent who can be tough to handle as well. Every time I step on court the thought is only of winning a trophy as there is a big difference in having your name on another trophy and ending as a runner-up.”

Siniakova outlasts Ruse

Earlier in the day, Siniakova also had to go the distance to stop the fine run of Romanian qualifier Elena Gabrieal Ruse, winning 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4. The 24-year-old from the Czech Republic capitalized on seven of her nine break-point chances to prevail after two hours and 33 minutes.

“After what we’ve all been through as professional athletes, the first feeling is that of joy as I can have a rare chance to contest for a title,” Siniakova told Gulf News. “The goal of coming here was to make this event an important part of my pre-season preparations. So staying here as long as possible, especially in such wonderful weather was always appealing to me and my team. And being in a final always gives one a chance to have one’s name on a trophy.”

Cirstea has won all of the three previous meetings with Siniakova. The last match took place in the first round of the 2019 US Open.