French Open tennis - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ends Tamara Zidansek dream run to reach first Grand Slam final

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 10/06/2021 at 20:05 GMT

Seeded number 31 at Roland Garros, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was not expected to make a deep run into the second week, yet the Russian has been inspired in Paris and she stormed past Tamara Zidansek to reach Saturday's showpiece final. It has been a special run from the 23-year-old Zidansek, but she simply could not challenge Pavlyuchenkova when it really mattered on Thursday.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has continued her incredible run to the final of the 2021 French Open with a straight sets, 7-5 6-3, victory while ending the dream charge of Tamara Zidansek.

The 29-year-old, perhaps conscious of the toll the tournament has taken on her body already, strived for short points and played with superb aggression and intent to hit her way into Saturday's showpiece in one hour and 34 minutes in Paris.

Zidansek, who has been a revelation at Roland Garros this fortnight, was flat at key moments and did not manage to rise to the occasion as she has so many times previously in this tournament.

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In what was a tense and nervy start to the match, Zidansek was forced to shush her own team in her box for fear of a coaching violation. Then to end the first set in disappointing fashion, she planted both her serves into the net to double fault and hand her opponent a decisive break.

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Impressively aware of the implications of having her team cross the line in terms of offering her coaching from the stands, Zidansek put her finger to her mouth to make it abundantly clear that she did not want to hear from them at a crucial point in the opening set.

The 23-year-old was spoken to by the umpire at a changeover due to her team being somewhat over the top and, quick to address the fear of potentially receiving a coaching violation, the Slovenian took swift action.

'Well done!' - Pavlyuchenkova beats Zidansek to reach first Slam final

After the underwhelming finish to the opening set with the double fault, Zidansek threw everything she could at Pavlyuchenkova but ultimately the Russian always held the edge and would not let her level drop.

A flurry of breaks of serve did follow but Zidansek never managed to establish a commanding lead and Pavlyuchenkova was not only able to close out the win but ensure it was not a long match ahead of Saturday.

She will now await the challenge of facing Barbora Krejcikova, who edged out 17th seed Maria Sakkari in a marathon classic in the second semi-final. For both players it will be their first Grand Slam final.

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

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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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