Krejcikova eyes double Paris glory and says ‘I’m just going to have fun’
Barbora Krejcikova is having the time of her life at the French Open, and she could leave Paris with two trophies in her luggage.
After the extraordinary drama of her singles semi-final victory over Maria Sakkari on Thursday, Krejcikova returned to the court yesterday with doubles partner Katerina Siniakova. A 6-1,6-2 win over Magda Linette and Bernard Pera put her through to another final, where the duo will meet Bethanie Mattek-sands and Iga Swiatek tomorrow.
The 25-year-old Krejcikova is the first player since fellow Czech Lucie Safarova in 2015 to reach both finals in the same year, and she could be the first since Mary Pierce 21 years ago to lift both trophies.
Krejcikova's success in doubles is no surprise - the 25-yearold and Siniakova have previously won both the junior and senior titles at Roland Garros -but singles is a different matter.
When she arrived in Paris for the French Open last autumn, Krejcikova was ranked outside the top 100, and a run to the fourth round was the catalyst for a singles breakthrough that she feels has been along time in the making.
This is just her fifth time playing in the main draw of a slam in singles, and in her first final today she will take on Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Krejcikova said: "It just took me some time, but I think right now it's actually the right moment. Especially mentally,
I think I'm just there. I really matured. I just really appreciate things a lot, especially after what I've gone through, also with this pandemic and everything.
"Anastasia, she's a really good player, really experienced. she' s in a final, so she must be on a roll, playing well. I'm just really going to enjoy it because I was never expecting to be this far during this tournament. i' m just going to have fun and just going to enjoy and fight until the end."
Whoever wins will give the French Open a sixth first-time slam champion in a row and, if it is 29- year-old pavlyuchenk ova, then it will be a triumph of perseverance.
She reached the junior final 15 years ago aged 14 as the outstanding young talent in the women's game, but it is only now that she is close to achieving something.
"I had a lot of doubts because I could beat top-10 players and make the quarter-finals of a
major," said Pavlyuchenkova, who is playing in her 52nd slam main draw.
"I was very close to the semifinals a couple of times, but then it wouldn't happen. Those little puzzles were not coming together every time. I guess I had a lot of expectations as well th a ti couldn' t deal with over the years."
In the men’s singles, Stefanos T sit sip as battled past alexander Zverev in five sets and into his first grand-slam final.
The Greek opened up a twoset lead but Zverev turned the tables completely, winning the third and fourth sets.
Tsitsipas was 0-40 down in the opening game of the deciding set but he dug deep to hold and that proved the catalyst for a revival and a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
The 22-year-old will face NovakDjoko vic or Rafael Nadal, who were involved in a late night battle for a place in tomorrow’ s final.