Jeanjean lost for words after Pliskova victory
LITTLE-KNOWN Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean caused a sensation at Roland Garros by knocking out No.8 seed Karolina Pliskova.
The 26-year-old wildcard, ranked No.227 in the world, beat last year’s Wimbledon runner-up 6-2, 6-2.
In doing so Jeanjean became the lowestranked woman to win a match against a top-10 player at the French Open since Conchita Martinez beat Lori McNeil in 1988.
It is a remarkable achievement for a player who was a talented junior but who gave up tennis for almost five years after suffering a serious knee injury.
“I don’t really know what to say actually because what’s happening right now, it’s really something I never imagine before,” Jeanjean said.
“You know, when I stopped playing for four, five years, I never told myself I’d be in the third round of a grand slam.
“I don’t have an explanation. I don’t even realise what’s happening.
“I know I’m 26. It’s my first grand slam. I thought I would have lost in the first round in two sets, and now I found myself beating a top-10 player.
“I don’t really know how it’s possible, what’s happening. I just try to give my best to play my tennis, and it’s working so far.
“When I stopped playing when I was young, I just wanted to give myself another chance, because in my head since I was good when I was like 14, 15, so I’m like, ‘why I can’t be good 10 years later?’.
“So that’s why, yeah, I took my chance, and so far it’s working.”
Jeanjean will play Irina-Camelia Begu, who knocked out 30th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, in the third round.