FRENCH OPEN WOMEN’S SINGLES CHAMPS - SINCE 2000

Justine Henin-Hardenne (four titles), Serena Williams (three), and Maria Sharapova (two) are the only three players to have won the championship more than once since 2000. There had been many as 16 champions, 12 of them from Europe, altogether during those 22 years.

[caption id="attachment_142817" align="alignnone" width="464"] Justine Henin-Hardenne, the most successful French Open women’s single champion during the last two decades[/caption]

2000 - Mary Pierce (France)

2001 - Jennifer Capriati (USA)

2002 - Serena Williams (USA)

2003 - Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

2004 - Anastasia Myskina (Russia)

2005 - Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

2006 - Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

2007 - Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

2008 - Ana Ivanovic (Serbia)

2009 - Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)

2010 - Francesca Schiavone (Italy)

2011 - Li Na (China)

2012 - Maria Sharapova (Russia)

2013 - Serena Williams (USA)

2014 - Maria Sharapova (Russia)

2015 - Serena Williams (USA)

2016 - Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)

2017 - Jeļena Ostapenko (Latvia)

2018 - Simona Halep (Romania)

2019 - Ashleigh Barty (Australia)

2020 - Iga Świątek (Poland)

2021 - Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic)

[caption id="attachment_142818" align="alignleft" width="462"] The 25-year-old, who was not in the top 100 12 months ago, celebrated by kissing the French Open’s Suzanne Lenglen Cup on Saturday (12)[/caption]

Unseeded Czech Barbora Krejčíková secured her first Grand Slam singles title with a three-set victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final of the French Open on Saturday (12) at the Roland Garros Arena in Paris.

In a battle of two players who were contesting a Grand Slam singles final for the first time, Krejčíková prevailed 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to claim the biggest victory of her career, reported The Inside the Games.

In doubles final too

Krejčíková, who was not even inside the top 100 12 months ago, had the chance to seal another title at Roland Garros when she plays in the doubles final yesterday evening.

The world number-33 and compatriot Katerina Siniakova will aim for a third Grand Slam doubles crown when they play Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek.

Krejčíková could become the first woman to win the singles and doubles titles on the red clay in Paris since France’s Mary Pierce in 2000.

“I’m super happy I was able to enjoy it,” said Krejčíková.

“I’m just really happy. It is hard to put into words because I cannot believe what just happened. I cannot believe I actually won a Grand Slam.”

Only fifth time in Grand Slam singles

[caption id="attachment_142819" align="alignleft" width="359"] Defeat for the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova prolongs her wait for a first Grand Slam singles crown[/caption]

Krejčíková, competing in a Grand Slam singles draw for only the fifth time, made a bright start and convincingly wrapped up the first set with the loss of a single game.

Pavlyuchenkova, the 31st seed, was not going to lie down and fought back to level with a battling performance in the second set.

Krejčíková broke in the seventh game of the decider, which proved crucial as she served out victory on her fourth match point.

Jana Novotna’s inspiration

The Czech looked to the sky to remember her mentor Jana Novotna, who died of cancer in 2017, after Pavlyuchenkova’s shot was called out.

“I was going through a really hard time when Jana passed away, I was with her most of the time,’ said Krejčíková.

“Her last words were pretty much ‘just enjoy it and try to win a Grand Slam’. I know from somewhere she is looking after me and all this what happened in the last two weeks is pretty much because she is looking after me from up there,” she said in the post final trophy presentation.

“It is amazing I had the chance to meet her and she was an inspiration. I hope she is really happy and I am extremely happy.”