Czech doubles No. 1 Katerina Siniakova reaches Osaka final, faces Ashlyn Krueger
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The gist
Czech player Katerina Siniakova beat Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-4 to reach the Osaka final.
She is chasing her first WTA singles title since 2023.
Background
Katerina Siniakova is a Czech player who is world No. 1 in doubles, with 10 Grand Slam women's doubles titles and five WTA singles titles, but she is ranked No. 86 in singles. She arrived in Osaka with a 21-19 singles record this season and is chasing her first WTA singles title since 2023; a win in the final would be her sixth singles title. Her run in Osaka lifted her live ranking from No. 86 to around No. 67 before the semifinal.
How it unfolded
- 2025Boulter beat Siniakova in three sets in the first round of the Madrid Open on clay, their only previous meeting before Osaka.
- Oct 22, 2026Siniakova and Li advance at the Osaka Open; Boulter meets Ruzic in the quarterfinals.
- Oct 23, 2026Siniakova beats qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 in the Osaka quarterfinals.
- Oct 24, 2026Siniakova beats Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-4 in the Japan Open semifinal in Osaka, winning in 85 minutes.
- Oct 24, 2026Ashlyn Krueger beats top seed Ann Li 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in the other semifinal.
- Oct 25, 2026Siniakova is due to face Ashlyn Krueger in the Osaka final.
- Oct 26, 2026The Guangzhou Open begins, running to November 1; Siniakova faces third seed Lanlana Tararudee in the first round.
Who’s saying what
- Party
- Boulter said the slightly faster courts in Osaka suited her game, a welcome change from the slower conditions she has faced on much of the tour.
Still unverified
According to reports during the week, Boulter's Osaka run puts her in position to reclaim the British No 1 ranking from Sonay Kartal, who took it from her just days earlier.