Paris: Barbora Krejcikova took a rollercoaster ride into a maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open on Wednesday as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal closed in on another blockbuster clash.
Czech world number 33 Krejcikova knocked out American 17-year-old Coco Gauff 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 after saving five set points in the opener and then needing six match points to finish the job.
She goes on to face either eighth-seeded defending champion Iga Swiatek, the only top 10 player to reach the quarter-finals, or Greece’s Maria Sakkari.
Gauff, the 24th seed and the youngest quarter-finalist at a major in 15 years, was undone by seven double faults and 41 unforced errors.
“I never really imagined I’d be standing here one day on this court, especially in singles, and being able to win,” said Krejcikova, who had been so paralysed by fear before her last 16 victory over Sloane Stephens that she locked herself in a stadium office and wept.
Krejcikova, now on a 10-match winning streak, is having a busy week. She is also in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles.
Swiatek, Poland’s first Grand Slam singles champion, is on a run of 22 straight sets won in Paris.
She is also winning rave reviews including from Britain’s two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray who tweeted his admiration for the Pole’s style of play.
“Thank you Sir Andy! Are you by any chance up for a practice? I really need to improve my skills on grass,” she tweeted back to the former world number one.
Murray replied: “Anytime just promise to go easy on me as I’m a bit old and fragile now!”
Like Krejcikova, Swiatek is also into the women’s doubles semi-finals with US partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
SAKKARI BOOKS
SEMIFINAL BERTH
Maria Sakkari defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to become the first Greek woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open on Wednesday.
The world number 18 will face unseeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic for a place in the final after seeing off Swiatek who had required a medical timeout early in the second set.
Thursday’s other semi-final sees Russian 31st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova tackle unseeded Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia.
“I am speechless. It is a dream coming true. I don’t know, it is a very nice feeling and I could not have done it without my team and their support,” said the 25-year-old.
“We have a long way to go but we made a huge step today.
“I enjoyed myself and sat down and said to myself it is an important match but to enjoy it. I had to enjoy it.” For only the second time in the Open era, there are four first-time Grand Slam semi-finalists in women’s singles, after the 1978 Australian Open.
Furthermore, for just the fifth time in Roland Garros history, a player seeded outside the top 10 will lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday.
Sakkari is the second Greek in the semi-finals of the singles at this year’s French Open after Stefanos Tsitsipas made the men’s last four on Tuesday.
Swiatek had carved a break for 2-0 in the first set before the Greek quickly levelled, breaking again for a 5-4 lead. Sakkari confidently pocketed the opener, ending the champion’s run of 22 straight sets won at the tournament.
When Swiatek slipped 0-2 down in the second set, the Pole left the court for a medical timeout, returning with her right thigh tightly strapped.
Swiatek had to battle to avoid going a double break down in the fifth game but eventually succumbed in the 10th.
Sakkari reaped the reward for her all-out attacking game with five aces and 26 winners. — AFP
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