Paris (AFP)
It is an unexpected and unprecedented final which will pit Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (32nd) against Barbora Krejcikova (33rd) at Roland Garros on Saturday and will allow one of them to expand a rather meager record until then. .
After the pre-tournament package of Simona Halep, that of Naomi Osaka before her 2nd round, then the abandonment of Ashleigh Barty in the 2nd and the defeats of Bianca Andreescu (1st round), Karolina Pliskova and Belinda Bencic (2nd), Elina Svitolina (3rd) and Aryna Sabalenka (3rd), Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin (8th), Iga Swiatek (quarterbacks), there were no more Top 10s in the table and there were only new arrivals in the major semis.
Experience and solidity prevailed with regard to Pavlyuchenkova (29) who dominated Tamara Zidansek (85th at 23) 7-5, 6-3.
His aggressive play (155 winning strokes, tournament record, to reach the semi-finals) once again hit the mark.
Zidansek, made more winning shots Thursday (27 against 19), but she also and above all committed more unforced errors than the Russian (33 against 22).
"Tennis is such a mental sport, at 90% that's what's really difficult. I tried to fight on every ball, every point, to work tactically too. Sometimes with the emotions I put balls. everywhere and my brother (his trainer, editor's note) said to me: + Think a little! + I'm happy to have been able to win despite the stress and fatigue, "Pavlyuchenkova underlined.
With 12 trophies on the prize list, Pavlyuchenkova was by far the most successful of the four semi-finalists.
- 52 Major for a final -
She was also significantly more experienced than Zidansek since she had already played six times in the Major quarter-finals (Australia 2017, 2019, 2020, Wimbledon 2016, US Open 2011, Roland-Garros 2011) without succeeding until then to pass in the last square.
The Slovenian had never passed the second round in a Grand Slam.
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But the Russian is also the player who will have played the most Majors before reaching the final for the first time: 52!
"I didn't know it, but I want to go further, I want more. I'm happy, but I stay focused and I have the feeling that maybe I can do better", a- she commented.
The young Anastasia that she was at 14 would say to her: "What took you so long?", Because the road "has been long, with many ups and downs".
To win the Grail, she will have to beat an even more unexpected opponent since Krejcikova (25) has so far only one WTA title, won this year in Strasbourg just before Roland Garros.
- Defy logic -
And she did not start favorite against the muscular Greek Maria Sakkari (18th) who had chained the victories in particular over Sofia Kenin in 8th then Iga Swiatek in quarters, respectively finalist and winner of the 2020 edition.
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But Krejcikova was ready to challenge logic.
Throughout the match she kept her opponent under pressure and it was she who emerged victorious, not without having saved a match point, from a clash of 3:18, including 84 minutes for the only third set, 7-5, 4-6, 9-7.
"I always wanted to play this kind of game when I was young, when I played in juniors. I always wanted to fight this kind of fight. We both had our chances, we both had so well. Even if I had lost, I would be very proud of myself, because I fought, and that is the most important. To fight all the time, on the court but also in life, is the more important, "commented the Czech who needed five match points to conclude.
With tears in her eyes, she dedicated this victorious fight to her compatriot and former coach Jana Novotna, Wimbledon champion in 1998 and who died in 2017 at the age of 49 from cancer.
Help from the beyond could be welcome in the final, given the physical and emotional strength Krejcikova left on the court on Thursday.
© 2021 AFP