Thursday June 10, 2021
Gummy bears and battle of nerves
Surprising French Open final perfect
There are already four premieres in the semifinals, now the surprising final of the French Open is complete. While the Czech Krejcikova only prevails after a three-hour tennis thriller, the Russian Pavlyuchenkova has it easier on the way to the final in Paris.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova treated herself to a couple of gummy bears and then stormed into the final, a short time later the clever strategist Barbora Krejcikova followed her after a real nerve battle: the 29-year-old Russian and the four-year-old Czech duel for the title at the French Open. For both of them it is the biggest match of their careers so far.
“Wow, it’s unbelievable, it’s so emotional for me, I don’t even know what to think or say,” said Pavlyuchenkova after her 7: 5, 6: 3 win against the Slovenian Tamara Zidansek. In her 52nd attempt, she finally made it to a major final, no player had made such a long attempt: “I’m trying to take it easy now.”
Most recently, in Maria Sharapova, a Russian woman won the title in Roland Garros in 2014 – and the five-time major winner, who has already ended her career, promptly congratulated her on social networks.
The nerve battle lasted over three hours
For the sixth year in a row, a player will secure her first Grand Slam title in Paris – and after her 7: 5, 4: 6, 9: 7 success in the semifinals against the Greek Maria Sakkari, Krejcikova is now determined to to seize the great opportunity. The match lasted 3 hours and 18 minutes and a dream fell for Sakkari: She would have been the first Greek to reach a major final. But the Hellenes still have an iron in the fire. Because with the men, Stefanos Tsitsipas, semi-final opponent of Alexander Zverev on Friday (2:50 p.m. / Eurosport and ServusTV), still has every chance.
While the men’s record winner Rafael Nadal remains the favorite before his duel with Novak Djokovic and could win for the fifth time in a row, the women’s competition was turbulent – not just because Naomi Osaka withdrew as a result of her much-discussed press -Boykotts. Then one favorite after the other had to pack her suitcase.
Pavlyuchenkova and Krejcikova also worked hard on this. The Russian, who took a break in the second set against Zidansek, allowed herself a little snack food as nerve food, sent home the highly rated Aryna Sabalenka and Wiktoria Asarenka from Belarus. Krejcikova eliminated Elina Switolina from Ukraine and super talent Cori Gauff from the USA – and could now write herself in the history books as an unseeded player.
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