"It's really a dream for me, commented the 19-year-old Frenchwoman. I always dreamed of being able to play on this court, in addition almost filled with the French public behind me to support me and who clearly pushed me today to get this match."
"I'm just the happiest," she added.
The Frenchwoman, who has only reached the second round (2019) once on clay in Paris, will try to do better this year against Colombian Camila Osorio (66th), winner the day before of another Frenchwoman, Harmony Tan .
As the rain bounced noisily off the roof of the Philippe-Chatrier court, Parry was outplayed in the first set where she gave up her serve three times.
"It's never easy to start on this kind of court, especially against the defending champion. We necessarily want to do well, and sometimes we overplay a little, that's what happened to me. Afterwards, I told myself to be aggressive, to play my game, to let go of my shots: I had nothing to lose."
The game seemed made when the Czech made the entry break in the second set and confirmed to lead 2-0.
Except that, supported by the public, the Frenchwoman then lined up six games in a row to equalize at one set everywhere.
The deciding set started like the previous one, with Krejcikova winning the first two games.
But once again Parry has raised the bar by aligning three games in a row.
Faced with an opponent who was committing gross faults, the Frenchwoman tightened the game. On a high volley of forehand that Krejcikova completely missed when the court was wide open, Parry made the decisive break (5-3) and served in stride for the game.
Krejcikova had not played since her elimination in February in Doha, suffering from elbow pain and mental fatigue.
But before Roland-Garros, she had assured to have returned to 100%.
© 2022 AFP