- French Open women’s singles final from Roland Garros
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2.42pm BST
First set: Krejcikova* 6-1 Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Too easy! A second serve ace takes it to 15-30 when a wobble looked in the offing. Then to 30-30 with the save of an attempted winner that did not have nearly enough gas. Then some strong serving takes it to set point. And that’s seen out with a skidder that forces a return to go long. After that horrible first service game this has been brilliant from Krejcikova. By contrast, Pavlyuchenkova is really struggling out there. She’s been nowhere near her best.
2.38pm BST
First set: Krejcikova 5-1 *Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Krejcikova brimming with confidence and making her opponent suffer. Pavlyuchenkova is trying to force things too hard, it goes to 0-30. Then a missed smash coughs up three break points. Krejcikova could have taken the first, but collided with some advertising for a French car company you also associate with cycling. The next will have to do. That’s five games in a row.
2.34pm BST
First set: Krejcikova* 4-1 Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Krejcikova takes full hold of this set, despite making an unforced error to go to 15-15. Pavlyuchenkova makes her own error so we go to 30-15 but a lob takes it to 30-30. Then a fine rally results in Krejcikova stepping into the centre of the court to crash a winner, she takes the game on her next serve.
2.30pm BST
First set: Krejcikova 3-1 *Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Two breaks now to the Czech, having been so wonky in the first game. Pavlyuchenkova’s turn to be nervous? It looks that way. Krejcikova is though beaten by a powerful backhand winner from the baseline. Pavlyuchenkova then misses a winner having been drawn in by some low-hanging slices. Then a drop shot forces another two break points. First one is saved by an even better drop shot. The next is a winner down the line for deuce. But then Pavlyuchenkova goes long for another break point to face. And again!
2.23pm BST
First set: Krejcikova* 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Krejcikova in the groove? Perhaps but both are playing decent ground strokes. There is not much between the pair in these early stages. It goes to 30-15. Then 40-15 via a crashing backhand from the back of the court. She attempts the same to take the game but rattles the net cord. Then some nerves over second service on 40-30 but she sees it out.
2.19pm BST
First set: Krejcikova 1-1 *Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
Broken back immediately. Krejcikova begins with a confident winner, then nets for 15-15. Some neat serving and following up takes it to 30-15. Then Pavlyuchenkova nets for 30-30. This is nervous stuff. Krejcikova whips a winner home as she steps to the net for a break point. Pavlyuchenkova saves it with whipped back hand which dies like a falling leaf on the other side of the net. Then there’s an error on a service return for the advantage. Pavlyuchenkova’s serving is nervous, too. And her attempt to take the game goes long. This could be a marathon. Krejcikova gets another chance at break point, and she takes it with a winner that her opponent misreads completely.
2.13pm BST
First set: Krejcikova* 0-1 Pavlyuchenkova (*denotes server)
A break in the opening game, Kader Nouni is the umpire today and he gets it underway in his mellifluous tones. We begin with a long rally in which both players get to test out the other. Pavlyuchenkova plays a winner to take that, and then reads Krejcikova’s serve to go to 0-30. Then comes a double fault. A touch of the yips? A winner to go to 15-40 will restore some confidence. But then comes another double. Oh dear.
2.05pm BST
The players enter the court. It seems muted out there, when compared to last night’s fireworks. This is something of a low-key final but with there being a chance for both players to win a first Slam, nerves are bound to play their part.
Both are all smiles as the toss is made. Pavlyuchenkova has opted to receive, and so begins the knock-up. It’s hot and muggy in Paris.
2.02pm BST
The great thing about having four first-time semi-finalists is that it means you also get brand new grand slam champion. If that is stating the obvious, it is perhaps not as clear as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s talent. The 29-year-old Russian has beaten 35 top-10 players and has won 12 titles outside of the majors over the course of her career. It is, however, at the big four events where Pavlyuchenkova struggles. Before her run to the final at Roland Garros this year, she has never got past the quarter final stage. She finished 2020 outside the top 30, but this year saw her beat a number of big names on a run the final at the Madrid Open before repeating the trick in Paris. Third seed Victoria Azarenka will tell you exactly how good Pavlyuchenkova can be on her day after the Russian came back to win from a set down in their fourth round tie.
As such Pavlyuchenkova is perhaps a slight favourite against former doubles specialist Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old Czech does at least have grand slam final-winning experience, with the French Open among three major doubles titles on her palmarès. Krejcikova only won her first WTA singles title this year.