DeportesSport

Barbora Krejcikova es la nueva monarca del Roland Garros /wins first Grand Slam singles title in Paris

La checa Barbora Krejcikova ganó este sábado la edición de 2021 de Roland Garros al imponerse en la final a la rusa Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, con lo que logró su primer título de Grand Slam en sólo cinco participaciones en un grande.

Krejcikova, que sucede en el palmarés a la polaca Iga Swiatek, vencedora de 2020, superó a Pavlyuchenkova, de casi 30 años, en tres sets (6-1, 2-6 y 6-4), en una hora y 58 minutos.

Se trató de una atípica e inesperada final entre los contendientes por las que casi nadie apostaba y que nunca se habían medido antes en el circuito.

Krejcikova, reputada jugadora de dobles -este domingo precisamente disputa la final de la modalidad en Roland Garros-, es la segunda tenista checa en lograr el triunfo femenino, después de que lo obtuviese Hana Mandlikova en 1981 representando a la extinta Checoslovaquia. EFE

French Open: Barbora Krejcikova wins first Grand Slam singles title in Paris

Unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova sealed her rapid rise in the singles game by claiming a first Grand Slam title in an emotional French Open win.

Krejcikova beat Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 2-6 6-4 in only her fifth major singles draw appearance.

The former doubles world number one paid tribute to mentor Jana Novotna, who died in 2017 at the age of 49, saying she owed her success to her.

“She is looking after me from up there,” said 25-year-old Krejcikova.

Krejcikova has often spoken about the impact of former Wimbledon champion Novotna, who died from ovarian cancer.

When she was 18 and an aspiring player, Krejcikova’s parents took her to Novotna’s house and asked the former world number two for some advice.

Novotna saw something special and became her coach, mentor and friend until she died.

“I was going through a really hard time when Jana passed away, I was with her most of the time. Her last words were pretty much ‘just enjoy it and try to win a Grand Slam’,” Krejcikova said.

Pointing to the sky, she added: “I know from somewhere she is looking after me and all that happened in the last two weeks is pretty much because she is looking after me.