Krejcikova’s grit ignites Czechia in Sydney opener
Barbora Krejcikova overcomes injury rust in her United Cup debut to down Malene Helgo, as Jakub Mensik’s late surge clinches a tense victory for Czechia over Norway in Group D.
In the electric hum of Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, Barbora Krejcikova launched her 2026 season with a straight-sets takedown of Norway’s Malene Helgo, handing Czechia a 1-0 lead in United Cup Group D. The two-time Grand Slam champion, ranked No. 65 after a 2025 derailed by back and knee troubles, wore a sleeve on her left knee but moved with growing assurance on the indoor hard courts. This debut win, after retirements in Beijing and at a WTA 125 event in Limoges, felt like a release valve for pent-up frustration.
Helgo, the 26-year-old from Oslo ranked No. 532, started strong, drawing on her 2024 United Cup runs where she stretched Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic to three sets. She bolted to a 3-1 edge by redirecting Krejcikova’s heavy topspin forehands crosscourt with crisp angles. But in a five-deuce fifth game, Krejcikova erased a break point, then dominated with eight of the next nine games, blending inside-out forehands that pulled Helgo wide and down-the-line backhands that pinned her deep.
“I didn’t play for a long period, and the injury that I had was really tough and very unfortunate,” Krejcikova said afterwards. “I’m really happy that I’m here, that I can play, that I can enjoy, that I can compete, and I’m really happy that I can finally finish a match.”
The 1 hour, 38-minute battle ended 6-3, 6-1, with Krejcikova’s slice backhands disrupting Helgo’s rhythm on the low-bouncing surface. Her knee held up, improving daily as she noted, allowing fluid court coverage that echoed her 2021 French Open poise. This tactical shift—from tentative returns to deeper, varied groundstrokes—eased the mental weight of a season that began in May post-back injury and hit another wall at the China Open.
Krejcikova rebuilds rhythm on hard courts
With Czechia ahead, the tie’s fate rested on Jakub Mensik’s shoulders in his United Cup debut against Casper Ruud. The 20-year-old World No. 18, Miami Masters 1000 winner from last year, faced a Top 20 foe on a surface that rewarded his booming serve. Norway, already 0-1 after an earlier loss, needed Ruud’s baseline steadiness to level things, but Mensik’s power tilted the exchanges from the outset.
Mensik fired 16 aces, claiming 78% of first-serve points while Ruud managed 56%, per Infosys ATP Stats. He snagged a break at 5-5 in the first set with an inside-in forehand winner, then served out the 7-5 edge amid rising crowd cheers. The indoor hard courts amplified his kick serves, bouncing high to jam Ruud’s returns and set up short balls for aggressive follow-ups.
Mensik holds firm in tiebreak fire
The second set tightened, with Mensik failing to close at 5-4 after a loose service game. Trailing 5-3 in the tiebreak, he reeled off five of the next six points, capping it with a crushed crosscourt forehand pass on set point to seal 7-6(6). This poise under pressure improved his head-to-head to 2-0 over Ruud, following their 2025 Australian Open clash, and made Mensik the second-youngest man to win a United Cup singles match at 20 years and four months—behind only an 18-year-old Stefanos Sakellaridis in 2023.
“First match of the season, it’s never easy,” Mensik said during his on-court interview. “It’s been a great fight. I’m grateful for the win. I managed in both sets to find the power at the end, that was the most important thing.”
His one–two pattern—big serve into deep returns—neutralized Ruud’s flat forehands, forcing errors on the fast surface. The victory dropped Norway to 0-2, while Czechia joined Australia at 1-0 in Group D. Mixed doubles loomed next, but this 2-0 sweep showcased resilience: Krejcikova’s variety overcoming physical doubts, Mensik’s clutch serving conquering debut nerves.
Check the United Cup: Scores for full details, and track progress via the United Cup: Standings. As the round-robin heats up in Sydney, Czechia’s stars signal a team primed for deeper runs, their adjustments on these boards hinting at stronger showings ahead in the 2026 hard-court swing.
