Lucky seven for Pavlyuchenkova, defeats Rybakina to reach Roland-Garros semi-final
It was an incredible match as Anastasia Pavyluchenkova beat Elena Rybakina 6-7(2), 6-2, 9-7
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Roland-Garros 2021
- What happened: In her seventh Grand Slam quarter-final, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova finally went one better to reach the semi-final.
- You will also learn: How Rybakina’s streak of nine successive sets won at Roland-Garros was brought to an end.
- Why you should read this: It was an intense, emotional match between two players who now pair up to continue their quest for a doubles crown.
At the seventh time of asking, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final, beating Elena Rybakina 6-7(2), 6-2, 9-7.
Pavlyuchenkova was in the Roland-Garros quarter-finals ten years after reaching her first – but Rybakina had never before got to this stage of a Slam.
The first set lasted almost an hour, with Rybakina initially racing to a 4-1 lead but then extending to a tie-break, which the Kazakhstan star dominated.
But then Rybakina dropped her first set of the tournament as the 29-year-old found her feet and began to force more errors from her opponent.
And then an epic and enthralling third set was brought to a close as Rybakina served a double fault – an unworthy way for a great match to conclude.
The two will now resume their doubles partnership to face Magda Linette and Bernarda Pera in the quarter-final there.
And Pavlyuchenkova will face Tamara Zidansek in the last four for a place in a maiden Slam final.
