French Open: 'Brutal umpire error' - Andy Murray reacts as Barbora Krejcikova has to win TWICE due to gaffe

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 10/06/2021 at 20:45 GMT

The Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari, who prior to this tournament had never reached a Grand Slam final, gave absolutely everything but Barbora Krejcikova will now take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday's showpiece after another brilliant performance on the big stage. The Czech player held her nerve in thrilling fashion in an extended third set after having to win the match twice.

Barbora Krejcikova eventually won her French Open semi-final against Maria Sakkari in three marathon sets, 7-5 4-6 9-7 - and she had to close out the match twice due to a howler from the umpire.

The Czech player, who prior to this tournament had never reached a Grand Slam final, like her opponent, will now take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after a match which lasted three hours and 18 minutes.

British tennis legend Andy Murray was quick to react on social media after the "brutal" mistake from the umpire denied Krejcikova victory first time round with a dodgy line call.

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There was incredible drama as everyone in the stadium thought the match had been won - but thankfully for Krejcikova and for justice being done, she was able to close it out at the second attempt shortly afterwards.

To put it simply: the initial line call was 'out', the umpire overruled to say it was 'in', then Hawkeye (which is not used at Roland Garros) proved it was indeed out after all.

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Krejcikova said she "could not believe it" when she was asked about the decision in the Eurosport Cube after the match.

'I couldn't believe it' - Krejcikova on having to win match twice due to umpire blunder

Eurosport's Chris Evert also gave her reaction: "I was thinking that maybe they will get Hawk-Eye for this tournament like they do the other Grand Slams – I just felt so bad for her.

I was horrified when they showed the mark was out after the umpire had called it in, and I was thinking she might not win the match even though she has won the match.

"But talk about emotion, we’re so thrilled for Krejcikova. By the same token, there is a sadness for Sakkari because they both played their hearts out.

"During the whole tournament there was some big points with some bad line calls, it’s not just this one time so that’s why I feel the system isn’t working right now."

Sakkari almost tried too hard in the opening set and Krejcikova capitalised on her opponent's mistakes. The Greek roared back to win the second and was a break up in the third, only for Krejcikova to respond once again and take the final set 9-7.

For Sakkari it was a hugely disappointing end to an inspired showing at Roland Garros - particularly after she had recovered so impressively from losing the opening set and had looked set to kick on and win the match.

Sakkari found her way back into the contest in the second set and managed to balance her big hitting with a bit more patience from the back of the court, even when she faced a few obstacles.

The 17th seed was left furious midway through the crucial second set with a fan, who she felt deliberately shouted out mid-point. The Greek player told the umpire that she had mentioned this issue to him already in the first set and displayed her unhappiness with the situation after planting a forehand into the net to squander a break point at 4-2 up.

'Screaming at me!' - Sakkari upset at fan shouting out mid-point

"Someone is screaming at me!" Sakkari protested to the umpire in a fairly lengthy exchange before she had to regain her focus once more en route to winning the second set and levelling up the match.

Krejcikova took a very long break at the end of the second set which infuriated her opponent and even prompted boos upon her return from the fans on Court Philippe Chatrier.

'Absolute nonsense' - Fans boo as Krejcikova takes very long break

But Sakkari kept her composure impressively and proceeded to capitalise on a few mistakes, only to find herself losing out in heartbreaking fashion as Krejcikova edged a tense and thrilling finale.

- - -

Watch all the action from the 2021 French Open live on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app with 13-time champion Nadal eyeing a remarkable 14th title and the women's draw wide open at Roland Garros in Paris.

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