Quite a symbol.
Radiant on the official podium, Barbora Krejcikova receives the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup from Martina Navratilova.
Czechs and mat.
In front of his “ex-compatriot”, the surprise of Brno, 25, won his first Grand Slam against the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (6-1, 2-6, 6-4).
The 33rd in the world, a specialist in doubles (she had already won Roland Garros and the US Open), was not even in the top 100 a year ago and was only playing her 5th major table in Major.
With tears in her eyes, the new title holder can hardly believe it.
"It's really hard to find the words," she smiles, her cheeks both flushed with the effort and the emotion.
I don't realize, I can't believe I won a Grand Slam.
“With her gaze and finger turned to the sky, the young woman had a huge thought for the former champion Jana Novotna, her mentor, who died of cancer at the age of 49 in November 2017.
🎾 Surprise victory for Czech Barbora Krejcikova 🇨🇿 who will lift her first Grand Slam trophy 🏆 after a victory in the #RolandGarros final against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 🇷🇺 and jumped from 33rd to 15th in the world (6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in 1h58) pic.twitter.com/dYBjhuuGoc
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) June 12, 2021
“I went through very difficult times,” she continues.
When Jana was sick I spent a lot of time with her and she stuck with me, she taught me to be strong.
I know she's looking at me from up there and all that's happened here is because she's watching over me.
I miss her and hope she is happy.
I am happy.
"
Two one-way sleeves
After a failed first game and two double faults to give the Russian a break, the Czech never doubted under her visor.
Calmer, with a more varied game and a great tactical sense she largely dominated her opponent, to the point of concluding without breaking a sweat the first round in just half an hour (6-1).
Pavlyuchenkova reacted well at the start of the second set, saving a break point before taking the service of her rival by putting more intensity in her strikes.
Opposite, as if caught up by the scale of the event, Krejcikova quickly began to multiply faults.
Communicating vessels ...
And finally, despite a medical alert with the need to strap her left thigh to 5-2 after a delicate push, Pavlyuchenkova easily came back to a set everywhere.
Two rounds in one direction, with the frustration of not seeing the two contenders express their best tennis at the same time ...
6. For the 6th consecutive year, a player with a virgin GC record won #RolandGarros.
Such a series had never been observed in the same GC
▫️ 2016: Muguruza
▫️ 2017: Ostapenko
▫️ 2018: Halep
▫️ 2019: Barty
▫️ 2020: Swiatek
▫️ 2021: Krejcikova pic.twitter.com/dI3jA0wQ5O
- Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) June 12, 2021
Despite a mini-nervous breakdown at the start of the last round, Krejcikova regained her wits and her flashes of the first set.
With in particular eight points of rank and two shutouts of 2-3 to 4-3.
Even if she struggled to conclude as in quarters (6 match points) or in half (5 after saving one), the Czech did not let the chance of her life pass.
Twelve wins in a row
Since arriving in France, Krejcikova has been walking on water.
Before reigning over the capital, the young woman had indeed won her first WTA tournament in Strasbourg, twelve victories in a row.
And it's not over !
On Sunday, the future n ° 15 will set off to storm the doubles title with her usual comrade Katerina Siniakova against the pair made up of Mattek-Sands and… Iga Swiatek, the singles winner last year.
Since Mary Pierce in 2000, no player has managed the double single / double in the West of Paris.
In case of victory, the Czech will even become world No. 1 in the specialty.
