‘I’m just going to have fun,’ says Barbora Krejcikova as she looks to win a French Open double

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 on Friday with doubles partner Katerina Siniakova, and a 6-1, 6-2 win over Magda Linette and Bernard Pera put her through to another final.
The 25-year-old 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.
Czech-ing In 🇨🇿@BKrejcikova and @K_Siniakova are headed to their fourth major final as a team, and second at Roland-Garros, downing Linette/Pera 6-1, 6-2. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/kZKjnFJ3Nt
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2021
Krejcikova’s success in doubles is no surprise – the 25-year-old 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 a long 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 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.
SF ✅🎉
🧱🎾💪🏻🐯🍀🧡🗼🥐🇫🇷🥳#tennis #rolandgarros #paris @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/CW4Ttlzinm— Barbora Krejcikova (@BKrejcikova) June 10, 2021
“Anastasia, she’s a really good player, really experienced. She’s in a final, so she must be on a roll, playing well.
“I just think it’s going to be a lot of fun. 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 Pavlyuchenkova, 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 that has seemed tantalising out of reach in the intervening years.
“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 semi-finals a couple of times, but then it wouldn’t happen. But I feel like I’m there, I can beat those players, but the consistency is off, something is always off. It was tough to deal with.
“Those little puzzles were not coming together every time. I guess I had a lot of expectations as well that I couldn’t deal with over the years.”
The doubles final will take place on Sunday, with Krejcikova and Siniakova taking on American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek, who has bounced back strongly from the disappointment of her singles title defence ending in the quarter-finals.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
News
Serena Williams welcomes Tom Brady to ‘retirement world again’ as she opens up about her final match ‘regret’
“Sad to see you go,” Serena Williams told Tom Brady.
-
Tennis News
Elina Svitolina urges IOC to ‘stick to banning Russian and Belarusian athletes’ for Paris 2024 Olympics
Elina Svitolina wants a united front when it comes to sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus.
-
Tennis News
Marion Bartoli latest to criticise Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov – ‘I just can’t take that any more’
Marion Bartoli basing her opinion on Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov on incidents she witnessed herself.
-
Australian Open
Australian Open viewing figures need context amid Novak Djokovic snipes
TV viewing figures for Australian Open may appear to be disappointing, yet raw figures only reveal part of the story.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios on crutches as his manager gives fitness update
Everyone is “really, really pleased” with Nick Kyrgios’ recovery.
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek’s 2023 tennis schedule: Where is she competing next and her season so far…
A look at Iga Swiatek’s possible tournaments for the 2023 season.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz’s 2023 tennis schedule: Where is he competing next and his season so far…
Carlos Alcaraz’s confirmed and unconfirmed events for the 2023 tennis season.
-
Australian Open
‘Remarkable’ Novak Djokovic won Australian Open with ‘three-centimetre tear in his hammy’
Australian Open boss gives more detail about Novak Djokovic’s injury.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s ‘game undoubtedly the most complete on the Tour’, says Toni Nadal
“What the Serbian player has achieved is as amazing as it is admirable.”
-
ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev breaks silence after ATP’s ruling on domestic abuse case – ‘Justice has prevailed’
“I am grateful that this is finally resolved,” says Alexander Zverev.