Noskova, Andreeva, Fils and Van Assche reach junior finals in Paris
Two weeks ago, you probably wouldn’t have predicted that Barbora Krejcikova would face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for the 2021 Roland Garros women’s title.
But perhaps just as unlikely a prospect was the chance of seeing a mirror image in the junior final – an unseeded Czech against a Russian for the girls’ singles title, with the possibility of a dream double triumph in the women's and girls' events on the table for both nations.
Linda Noskova emulated compatriot Krejcikova’s dramatic semi-final win over Maria Sakkari by pulling off a turnaround triumph of her own, recovering from a first set pummelling to beat Russia’s Diana Shnaider 1-6 6-3 6-3 and guarantee a final against fellow 16-year-old, and another Russian, Erika Andreeva.
In so doing, she became the first Czech player to reach the girls’ singles final at Roland Garros in 32 years.
“It is special – I haven’t checked this info yet,” Noskova admitted. “I’m just really enjoying the moment at this point, and I’m looking forward to the final. I’m so excited.
“It’s a huge inspiration,” she added of watching Krejcikova reach the women’s final. “I met her in the locker room – I was like, ‘congratulations!’. I wish it would be a Czech victory double. That would be awesome!”
Noskova, who had the opportunity to play Krejcikova last year (“It didn’t turn out so well for me”, she joked), has already had plenty of experience of professional competition in her fledgling career, a factor that is no doubt contributing to her success in Paris.
She collected her first two titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour in Bratislava earlier this year and has already played 17 pro events while still aged just 16. The youngster will hope to utilise that experience as she, like Krejcikova, aims to emulate Hana Mandlikova – the last Czech female to win a singles title at Roland Garros having won the junior crown in 1978 and the women’s title in 1981.
Andreeva, who has a similar level of pro experience with three ITF titles to her name already, stands in her way. The Russian came through a fiercely contested match with compatriot Oksana Selekhmeteva - ultimately prevailing 2-6 7-5 7-6(0) - to reach her first junior Grand Slam final on her Roland Garros debut.
France's domination of the boys' event, where they managed to occupy all four semi-final spots for the first time in history, will culminate in a final between Luca Van Assche and Arthur Fils, who will face off in the first all French boys’ final at Roland Garros since Richard Gasquet thumped Laurent Recouderc in 2002.
"I think three sets are coming," predicted Fils, the 14th seed, who overcame fifth seed, doubles partner and good friend Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) (before teaming up together to win their boys' doubles semi-final later in the day).
"It will be a really tough match, because he's playing really good. He's really solid."
Van Assche too is expecting a "great match" in the final, but was keen to savour his achievement in getting there.
"I'm very happy to be in the final," said Van Assche, who negotiated Sean Cuenin 7-5 6-4 in their semi-final on Friday. "It was my goal at the beginning of the tournament. I was playing match by match, but at the end I really wanted to be in the final. Now I'm here, I'll enjoy it."
Van Assche warmed up for the junior event with a wild card into qualifying for the main draw, where he provided Henri Laaksonen a stern test before ultimately succumbing to defeat, and the 17-year-old right-hander admits that experience primed him well for a run to the final on just his second appearance at a junior slam.
"It helped me a lot. I learned a lot from this match against Laaksonen," he admitted. "I saw that I have the level of these players. I have a lot of confidence after this tournament."