French Open: Barbora Krejcikova saves match point to set up final with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova | Tennis News – Times of India
Krejcikova, 25, is the fourth unseeded women’s finalist in five years at Roland Garros. She won the French Open doubles title in 2018 but her best previous result in singles was a run to the fourth round here last year.
It will be the sixth successive French Open to crown a first-time women’s major champion.
“I always wanted to play a match like this, when I was younger, playing juniors, I always wanted to play such a challenging match where we both had chances and were playing so well,” said Krejcikova.
Believe it ✨Learn more about @BKrejcikova’s road to the #RolandGarros final. https://t.co/ReX9IpY7Og
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 1623373202000
“Even if I lost today I would be very proud of myself, because I was fighting. That is the most important thing, in here and in our own life.”
Both players made a nervy start to their maiden Grand Slam semi-final, with 17th seed Sakkari the first to hold serve in the fourth game as she took a 3-1 lead.
But Krejcikova picked up the next four, pulling 5-3 ahead with a sublime lob that left her serving for the set.
The Czech was then broken to love as Sakkari rattled off eight points in a row to level at 5-5.
??Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Barbora Krejcikova??The final is set. #RolandGarros https://t.co/CVTFxdqUHB
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 1623351735000
A routine hold from Krejcikova put the pressure back on Sakkari, who hammered a forehand long before surrendering the set as her shot clipped the net and floated wide.
Sakkari, who took down last year’s runner-up Sofia Kenin and then reigning champion Iga Swiatek in the past two rounds, regrouped and raced 4-0 ahead in the second.
The Greek fended off a spirited comeback from Krejcikova to force a decider after locking down a third set point.
Two Warriors ?@BKrejcikova | @mariasakkari | #RolandGarros https://t.co/XMWauCZ9bu
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 1623351082000
Sakkari broke for a 2-1 edge as Krejcikova dragged a backhand wide, saving a break point in the next game to consolidate as the finish line crept ever closer.
The Greek had match point at 5-3 but the resilient Krejcikova stayed alive with a sweeping backhand volley, and then broke back before moving 6-5 in front.
Krejcikova watched three match points of her own pass by at 7-6, Sakkari saving a pair with a crunching backhand winner and an ace.
É-Tchèque et mat ♟️@BKrejcikova est en finale de #RolandGarros ! Elle remporte la plus longue demi-finale femmes… https://t.co/rLL6nalsvr
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 1623350620000
Krejcikova held again with relative comfort and brought up another match point on Sakkari’s serve. A forehand from the Greek was called long, but the chair umpire dramatically overruled — even as TV replays showed the ball to be out.
Rather than dwell on her apparent hard luck, Krejcikova brought up a fifth match point, converting after three hours and 18 minutes with a backhand winner down the line.
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