French Open 2021 semi-finals: Krejcikova beats Sakkari and will face Pavlyuchenkova in final – as it happened

High drama in that last match with that call from the umpire, who judged it to be in, in Sakkari’s favour. Hawkeye has since shown the ball was 19 millimetres out! Which means Krejcikova should have won a few points before she actually did. Imagine the scenes if Sakkari had won the match, after such a big mistake. The French Open is the only grand slam which doesn’t use Hawkeye, with the officials preferring to use the marks in the clay. But it’s obviously a flawed system. I wonder if this call will affect the way the tournament uses technology going forward.

Krejcikova remains on course to become only the second player to win both the singles and the doubles titles. The Czech player is in the final of the singles, where she will face Pavlyuchenkova and in the women’s doubles semi-finals with Katerina Siniakova. The only other player to win both titles was France’s Mary Pierce in 2000.

Sakkari looked devastated as she left the court. She gave absolutely everything, but couldn’t quite get over the line, despite being the highest-ranking player left in the tournament.

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) The best tennis of the match, and it comes at the close. These two are out on their feet, but it is Krejcikova who edges it here, holding her serve with a neat serve out wide to Sakkari’s forehand. The Greek again must serve to stay in the match.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 7-7 Sakkari (*denotes next server) A disastrous decision from Sakkari! Krejcikova plays one of her long, looping backhands from the back of the court, Sakkari comes in to volley it but completely misjudges the flight and skews it into the net! Two match points for Krejcikova, but Sakkari saves them both, the latter with a superb cross-court winner. Real guts from the Greek! Krejcikova gets a lucky net chord and has another match point … but Sakkari sends an ace down the T! Cajones! Sakkari now takes control of the game, going ad up with an overhead before she seals it with an unreturned serve up the middle! 7-7!

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Krejcikova holds to love, but this is more to do with Sakkari’s impatience than anything else. The Greek is wild-eyed, winning one moment and self-destructing the next.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 6-6 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Sakkari rips a forehand that lands with a puff of chalk. She’s playing with the handbrake off. It’s a dangerous tactic, but her natural game. The Greek holds, relatively comfortably in the end, converting from 40-15, and we’re level again. No tie-break in the third set. On we go.

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 6-5 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) My money is now on Krejcikova. She knows that Sakkari is frustrated and is quite happy to bide her time in these increasingly long rallies. Sakkari obliges, shunting a forehand long before Krejcikova seals the game with a stunning backhand down the line. The Czech has trailed for almost the entire set but now she is one game away from a place in the final.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 5-5 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Wow! Wow! Wow! Break point now, Sakkari lets it all hang out, ripping arguably the best shot of the set cross court, clipping the line for good measure! But then, at deuce, she has a brain melt! Tries the drop shot but it lands in the net! Krejcikova then plays some gutsy defence, retrieving ball after ball before a killer backhand rips past Sakkari. Krejcikova, she’s broken back right at the death. That is absolutely clutch!

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 4-5 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari is almost foaming at the mouth at the prospect of a place in the final. She’s got one more game to go. at 30-30 a tired forehand from Krejcikova hits the top of the net, bounces up and falls down on her own side. Sakkari has a match point here … but Krejcikova holds her nerve, coming into the net to volley a winner! Krejcikova holds, and Sakkari will have to serve it out for the match.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 3-5 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Two absurd backhand winners from Sakkari. We haven’t seen that as much of late. She’s had plenty of scurry, and heart but the quality has dropped recently. That will be the nerves. But they are on both sides of the court, and Krejcikova can’t seem to get out from behind the baseline, bunting a backhand into the net to give Sakkari the hold.

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 3-4 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Krejcikova runs to retrieve a drop shot, actually gets there easily but doesn’t have the concentration to play it with the right depth. It’s a mental battle out there, as well as a physical one. Credit to Krejcikova, though, she serves well and holds. She’s still in this, but remains a break down.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 2-4 Sakkari (*denotes next server) There seems to be a large Greek contingent among the 5,000 strong crowd, and they go wild as Sakkari secures another hold to move closer to the victory. Krejcikova actually went to 30-0 up but seems to be fading physically. Is there another twist to come?

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 2-3 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Out of nowhere, Krejcikova comes alive. Three clean winners down the line, and she’s emerged from whatever funk has plagued her play in the very recent past. Ooooof.

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 1-3 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Sakkari is motoring now, talking herself into a frenzy between points, while Krejcikova looks visibly shaken, gesturing towards her corner for help. Sakkari does twice have to save break point but in targeting Krejcikova’s backhand, she’s getting results and it’s a monumental hold from the Greek!

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 1-2 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari breaks! She’s pumped up, perhaps angered by that extended break between sets, and in control of this set now! Some really sloppy shots from Krejcikova, is she tiring?

Third set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 4-6, 1-1 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Sakkari blasts her way to 40-0 but two loose shots threaten to derail a regulation service game. But a wonderful touch at the net just sneaks over on the most acute of angles and she holds!

Third set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari looks a bit thrown off, and completely mis-times four consecutive shots. Krejcikova holds to love. Was that anything to do with the extended break? Certainly it seems to have helped the Czech player.

Krejcikova is taking a lengthy break off the court. Sakkari has been off her seat, dancing around the court waiting for her opponent to emerge for around three minutes now. As Krejcikova finally re-emerges, there is a small smattering of boos around the court. It appears she has changed her clothes. There is, of course, no time limit between sets, but Sakkari’s momentum has been completely halted and it does seem to me to be deeply unfair on the Greek that she had to wait that long.

Second set: Krejcikova 7-5, 4-5 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) The shadow is now complete. Was it important at all? Who knows. I ate a meal last week half in and half out of the sun last week and it was very difficult. Anyway, Krejcikova holds, which means Sakkari will have to serve to see out this set. After a strong start, she’s making a bit of a meal out of it.

Second set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 3-5 Sakkari (*denotes next server) A rare visit to the net helps Sakkari to a surprisingly worry-free hold to love. She’s one game away from levelling this match at one set all.

Second set: Krejcikova 7-5, 3-4 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) No surprise as Krejcikova, a nervy server, also struggles in the new shadowing conditions, but gets herself to deuce and then sends down a 109 mph bomb to help close out the game for a important hold. She’s on the charge! It will be a good 10-15 minutes until the shadow is completely over the court. Sakkari is upset at a call from the crowd during that game, but there’s nothing to be done.

Second set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 2-4 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Big shadows now falling across Chatrier, half it in blazing sunshine, half of it darkened. Must be difficult to serve in, as Krejcikova breaks Sakkari to go 4-2. She’s still a break of serve down but this second set isn’t finished.

Second set: Krejcikova 7-5, 1-4 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Krejcikova serving woes continue. Her toss is all over the shop. She finds a first serve, but it’s only 85mph. Krejcikova scrambles to a hold of serve, but both players played fairly poorly there.

Second set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 0-4 Sakkari (*denotes next server) A ridiculous get from Sakkari. She’s well out of position but slides across the clay, plays a perfect slice forehand which keeps low, and Krejcikova goes from a position of strength in the point to defeated. Sakkari holds to go 4-0 up.

Second set: Krejcikova 7-5, 0-3 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Krejcikova’s third double fault hands Sakkari another break point, and the Greek No 17 seed capitalises, forcing Krejcikova into an error on a crucial point. Sakkari gets the double break!

Second set: Krejcikova* 7-5, 0-2 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Krejcikova’s reluctance to come into the net is surprising. She’s a top-class doubles player, and is actually also in the women’s doubles semi-finals this year with Katerina Siniakova. They will become the No 1 ranked pair if they win at Roland Garros. At the moment, Krejcikova is sparring at the back of the court with Sakkari, and losing the battle. Sakkari holds her serve.

Second set: Krejcikova 7-5, 0-1 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari will rise to 14 in the rankings if we wins this match and No 9 if she wins the title, but it’s a big task from here. Still, a break of serve in the opening game of the second set helps.

First set: Krejcikova 6-5 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) And now it is Krejcikova that serves to love. The Czech is still having issues with her toss, as she did against Gauff, but also manages to sends an ace out wide beyond the reach of Sakkari on the way to an easy hold.

First set: Krejcikova* 5-5 Sakkari (*denotes next server) And now the Greek serves to love. We are 5-5, Sakkari winning the last eight consecutive points.

First set: Krejcikova 5-4 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) I have no idea where this match is headed. Sakkari has just broken to love, with clean winners and shots that completely belie the form of the last few games. Remarkably, we are back on serve.

First set: Krejcikova* 5-3 Sakkari (*denotes next server) 40-0 down on her own serve, Sakkari has won just one of the last 10 points. A brief respite to 40-15 before Krejcikova plays one of the shots of the day to seal the break of serve: the Czech slids in towards the net and gets the ball back not only the net but also Sakkari’s head, a beautifully-judged lob onto the baseline that Krejcikova had no right to play. Chapeau.

First set: Krejcikova 4-3 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari is berating herself after another wild backhand falls just outside the intended target. She has to be careful not to work herself into a frenzy, and has apparently stopped taking Krejcikova second serve on. In fact, she can’t even get it back at this point. Sakkari has six winner and 13 (eeeeesh) unforced errors. Krejcikova’s third straight game.

First set: Krejcikova* 3-3 Sakkari (*denotes next server) Sakkari has the most remarkable serving action, particularly on her second serve, twisting and contorting her body almost into a crescent moon before snapping back in her release. Krejcikova sends a few looping shots high and long, just inside Sakkari’s baseline and this depth seems to unnerve the Greek, who has to save break point with a nice serve out wide. After Sakkari’s early dominance, this is turning out to be an even contest and Krejcikova breaks to take the scores to 3-3, after a couple of thundering cross-court backhands.

First set: Krejcikova 2-3 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Second serve is looking very shaky for Krejcikova, who is basically tossing the ball up for Sakkari at this point. At 15-30 down, Sakkari hits a particularly tame serve right back past Krejcikova for a clean winner. But Sakkari wastes two chances to break once more, putting two in the net. Krejcikova serves an ace, and although Sakkari questions the call, the umpire rules in the Czech’s favour, which Sakkari accepts, and after a couple of exchanged points, Krejcikova holds her serve for the first time. It wasn’t pretty, but she got the job done.

First set: Krejcikova* 1-3 Sakkari (*denotes next server) A lot of supporters are making their way into the court at the first changeover, so a bit of a delay. Sakkari gets the first hold to lead 3-1, the pick of the shots coming to go 40-30 up with a gorgeous forehand down the line, with Sakkari at full sprint. The Greek really is a bundle of energy.

First set: Krejcikova 1-2 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari is so vocal on the court. I think that really got to her opponent, Iga Swiatek, yesterday, and maybe the same is happening with Krejcikova. The Czech player goes from 40-30 up to losing the game, resulting in the third consecutive break of serve. 1-2 to Sakkari.

First set: Krejcikova* 1-1 Sakkari (*denotes next server) After a wonderful drop shot that ended a 20-shot rally, Sakkari hands the break straight back to Krejcikova, who didn’t have to do much to earn that game.

First set: Krejcikova 0-1 Sakkari* (*denotes next server) Sakkari takes the early break! She looks really fired up here. Krejcikova took a while to find her feet against Gauff but really grew into the match, perhaps the same will be true here.

Who will meet Pavlyuchenkova in the final, then? Maria Sakkari is the highest-ranked player but Krejcikova played exceptional yesterday in her win over Coco Gauff. Both Sakkari and Krejcikova are both out on court, let’s rejoin the action at Chatrier.

Pavlyuchenkova also looks absolutely knackered. There was no wild celebrations at the end there. She simply closed her eyes and looked to the heavens in relief. Pavlyuchenkova has done a lot of work on her fitness and in the gym in recent months but I think she was desperate to avoid a third set, and some powerful hitting set up the victory here.

What a tournament for Zidansek, though! She’ll be in the top 50 for the first time off the back of her performances here. She’s an incredibly talented player, but too many errors cost her today.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 5-3 Zidansek (*denotes next server) 30-30 and Zidansek bunts a backhand a foot beyond the baseline for yet another break point. Just as Zidansek looked as she had found her best form, she has a nightmare game, shunting another backhand wide. Did Zidansek slip there? It matters not. Pavlyuchenkova will serve for a place in the French Open final.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-3 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Two double faults gift Zidansek another break! She’s right back in this second set! Some sublime winners from both players here though, in between the unforced errors, but Zidansek is really on the charge. I do wonder if Pavlyuchenkova is hurt. She’s not moving as well as she was.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 4-2 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Zidansek had lost six of the last seven games, but she starts to swing. The last roll of the dice and it seems to work. Zidansek is at her most dangerous when she goes for her shots, trying to end the rally with a deft drop shot, as she does here for 15-0, or a devastating groundstroke, as she employs to seal out the game. A hold to love. It’s not over. The show goes on.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Indeed it is ominous. A comfortable hold for Pavlyuchenkova, who is looking every inch like a Roland Garros finalist.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 3-1 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova’s best shot of the match, running to her right before smashing a forehand down the line, which finds the corner. It looked in that last changeover that Pavlyuchenkova might have been struggling with some sort but she doesn’t show it. A confident break, and it’s again looking ominous for Zidansek.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 2-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova is doing her best to hit everything to Zidansek’s backhand, but the Slovenian comes to life and refinds her form from the beginning of the first set, sending low-flat forehands to all corners of the court. Zidansek only needs one break point, and from nowhere, we are back on serve!

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 2-0 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova forces deuce by coming into the net and firing a backhand down the line. I wonder Zidansek is getting tired – she’s spent a lot more time on court than her opponent in this tournament – and that 8-6, third-set win over Paula Badosa was a gruelling encounter. Pavlyuchenkova is picking off Zidansek’s second serve – the Slovenian saves a couple of break points but can’t live with Pavlyuchenkova’s power. Another break of serve, and this really is starting to look like Pavlyuchenkova’s to lose.

Second set: Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 1-0 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) For all her mistakes – 21 unforced errors – Zidansek has played the more entertaining tennis, and while that won’t necessarily win you a grand slam – hello Gaël Monfils! – you feel like the crowd are urging her on. Zidansek goes from 15-40 down to break point, before Pavlyuchenkova comes inside the baseline to dictate a couple of rallies and serve out the game. This game feels like a microcosm of the match, in many ways.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 6-5 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) This time Pavlyuchenkova comes to the net, but Zidansek rips a backhand cross-court to earn two break points at 40-15. The Russian has only won 2/9 in her visits to the net, and I wonder if the latest visit will discourage her. Great courage from Pavlyuchenkova, who smashes two ballsy serves right on the line to get to deuce. This is a huge game in the context of the match, but it is Pavlyuchenkova who holds her nerve to hold. Pavlyuchenkova hits a heavy ball when she gets into the groove, and Zidansek – particularly on the backhand side – often can’t handle it.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova* 5-5 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Some audible noises coming from Pavlyuchenkova, who was really given the run around in that last game. Zidansek is coming to the net a lot more often as the set progresses and has won the point on all eight occasions she has done so. A Zidansek drop shot does not quite come off, but the Slovenian closes out the game to level things up at 5-5!

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 5-4 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) AN ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS POINT! At 30-30, Pavlyuchenkova plays a drop shot, which Zidansek just about managed to sneak back over the net. The Slovenian is stranded, though, so Pavlyuchenkova lobs one back over Zidansek, who throw up her racket hopefully. The ball hits the very top string and catapults back towards Pavlyuchenkova’s baseline, just clipping the sideline! Zidansek just smiles, and her coaching team go bananas in the stand.

Pavlyuchenkova twice saves break point with some powerful groundstrokes but the Russian eventually succumbs, going long with a backhand. Zidansek breaks, and we’re back on serve!

First set: Pavlyuchenkova* 5-3 Zidansek (*denotes next server) A first drop shot from Zidansek, and it’s judged to absolute perfection. That shot was a big feature in her win in the quarter-final win over Paula Badosa and with Pavlyuchenkova lurking so far behind the baseline here, would not be a surprise to see it employed often here. Zidansek goes to 40-0 but a double fault and couple of sloppy errors let Pavlyuchenkova back into the game. Another double fault and another error later and Pavlyuchenkova breaks. She will serve for the first set!

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 4-3 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) In contrast, Pavlyuchenkova is 5ft10in and normally serves over 100mph. She holds here again, but only after a couple of bad misses from Zidansek. These two look very evenly matched though. Nothing between them so far. New balls in play.

First set: Pavlyuchenkov* 3-3 Zidansek (*denotes next server) At 5ft5in, you might expect serving to be a weakness of Zidansek, but she aces Pavlyuchenkova before moving 30-15 with a forehand winner after another perfect serve out wide. Not bad considering her fastest serve so far as only been 93mph. A good hold.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 3-2 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova has only hit 60-odd winners on her forehand this tournament compared to Zidansek’s 109, but it’s the Russian who is dictating the rallies here. She holds to move 3-2 ahead, that’s three games on the trot.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova* 1-2 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova rips a backhand down the line to secure three break points, but Zidansek comes back brilliantly to secure deuce. Zidansek looks certain to get the advantage with that ferocious forehand, but some brilliant defending from Pavlyuchenkova 10 feet behind her own baseline sees her throw a big lob into the sun. Zidansek is blinded by the sun and volleys it well out. Pavlyuchenkova breaks back, despite the fact that Zidansek has not missed a first serve yet, 12/12!

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 1-2 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova responds with a love hold of her own, and it’s the first game that she really started to play her shots, as she bids to become the first Russian finalist at Roland Garros since Maria Sharapova’s triumph over Simona Halep in 2014.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova* 0-2 Zidansek (*denotes next server) Zidansek holds to love. She’s settled brilliantly well, considering she’s the underdog here. Clay is her favourite surface and she looks completely at ease.

First set: Pavlyuchenkova 0-1 Zidansek* (*denotes next server) Pavlyuchenkova starts strongly with some great depth but Zidansek is standing right up on the baseline and forces deuce with one of her trademark forehands. That’s the Slovenian’s strongest shot, and she uses it again to secure her first break point. Pavlyuchenkova saves it with an ace up the middle, but Zidansek does get the break, tempting the Russian into the net with a low slice that Pavlyuchenkova sends long.

This is the first meeting between the pair. We see a shot of Pavlyuchenkova’s brother and coach, Aleksandr, who has two full tattoo sleeves and is sporting a skull t-shirt. Makes a change from the sporting goods we normally see.

Both semi-finalists are done warming up. Pavlyuchenkova will serve first. Here we go!

Pavlyuchenkova and Zidansek are now out on court at Chatrier. Zidansek confirms that she “slept really good. There are nerves but good nerves.”

Found it very interesting to hear an interview with Sakkari yesterday, who admitted that she was not enjoying her tennis until a recent trip back home to Greece, where she just lay on a beach, ate and slept. That meant she came back into this tournament fresh and hungry to train, and we can see the results.

That mindset hit home when Zidansek’s coach spoke yesterday.

Tennis is so important, but it’s not the only way, you know? We must spend the whole day. How to do it? Just to talk about tennis? You get tense then. So there are many things. We are mostly very positive. We enjoy every moment of life. Why not? We are not turtles that we live 220 years. Let’s enjoy it, c’mon.”

Obviously there’s been a big debate over this tournament over the players’ mental heath, with the withdrawal of Naomi Osaka. And being able to switch off, and being allowed to switch off during a relentless season on the tour, is sometimes as important as switching on.

Fair to say that Pavlyuchenkova is probably the favourite here, although we saw yesterday with Sakkari’s win over defending champion Iga Swiatek that things don’t always go to form.

About 20 mins until we start on Chatrier, where there’s been some British (!) news to celebrate!