SCORE
6-4: History has been made! Barbora Krejcikova becomes the first Czech champion in 40 years at Roland Garros!
Krejcikova will now have shot at a Roland Garros double tomorrow with the doubles final.
5-4: Pavlyuchenkova saves two championship points to hold! She is still in it by the barest of margins. Krejcikova was nearly there but the Russian dishes out some phenomenal serves and continues to hold on. Krejcikova will now serve for the Championship.
5-3: Top hold for Krejcikova! Pavlyuchenkova continues hurl down the fiery returns but Krejcikova continues to fend off the reduced challenge. A game away from history!
4-3: Krejcikova breaks! And there we have it. The injury begins to show up on the results as Krejcikova forces the wide returns that puts Pavlyuchenkova on the spot. A significant lead and the Czech's serve could well be the final nail.
3-3: Krejcikova storms through her serve. Pavlyuchenkova struggles to keep up with the speedy serves wide off her reach and this could well be the test for her up ahead.
2-3: Fine hold for the Russian. Pavlyuchenkova continues to defy the lack of movement with some fiery shots down the line. A crucial hold as we near the half-way mark in the final set.
2-2: Pavlyuchenkova strikes back! Sheer power on return and it has managed to waltz Krejcikova for a few moments. Pavlyuchenkova roars in delight as we are all square once again in the decider.
2-1: Massive break for Krejcikova! She employs the drop shot to good effect and tests the Russian's injury. Pavlyuchenkova continues to bash the winners but that might not be enough to win her maiden Slam right now.
1-1: A nervy hold for Krejcikova. The errors continue to mar her otherwise clear strokeplay but the Czech manages to hold on by the skin of her teeth.
0-1: Pavlyuchenkova's serve looks well assured at the moment. She has attempted to keep the rallies short to minimise running around with the injury. Krejcikova has continued to misfire with a string of errors and vents out in frustration for the first time this evening.
SET 2
2-6: Pavlyuchenkova takes the second!
If there were any doubts on her movement after the injury, the Russian has responded by pummelling the returns to Krejcikova and forcing the error. A top-class comeback and we are now going all the way in the finale!
MEDICAL TIMEOUT: Pavlyuchenkova is being treated for an injury to her thighs. A huge strapping is seen on her left leg now.
2-5: Not so fast, says Krejcikova. The Czech forces a break to keep Pavlyuchenkova waiting. The Russian is struggling with an injury as she does not an attempt to stretch for the wide returns from Krejcikova.
1-5: Pavlyuchenkova freezes the Krejcikova serve! Some serious power on the returns wide off Krejcikova's reach as the Russian is giving a response of equal measure in this final. Pavlyuchenkova now serving for the set.
1-4: Krejcikova gets on board and puts up a gruelling ask for Pavlyuchenkova on serve. The Russian manages to stave off the challenge with some delectable forehands down the line to take a 4-1 lead.
0-3: A strong hold, once again. Pavlyuchenkova clenches her fist up in delight towards her camp as she now has a firm grip on the second set.
0-2: Pavlyuchenkova breaks! First signs of a flourish from the Russian as she gets rooted firm on the baseline to pummel the returns far down the line. Krejcikova put under the barrel for the first time this evening.
0-1: Pavlyuchenkova finally holds! Krejcikova's scorching returns have put the Russian on her toes and had to give it her all to finally scrape through this service game.
SET 1
6:1 - Done and dusted!
A supreme set by all means for Krejcikova as she brushes off Pavlyuchenkova with some terrific shot-making. Pavlyuchenkova hardly got into her strides and the Czech already has a grip on the trophy.
5:1 - She breaks again. Pavlyuchenkova has no answers as some stiff backhand returns has put her on the backfoot. Krejcikova serving for the set!
4:1 - Krejcikova swelling in confidence. The Czech has managed to rush Pavlyuchenkova across the court before employing the drop shot that the Russian has failed to read so far.
3:1 - Krejickova breaks again! Pavlyuchenkova's serve has been disrupted early on with some deceptive net-play from Krejcikova - putting up a stark display in approach from her last match against Sakkari.
2:1 - Krejcikova loses the first game with a wavering serve and fights back with some sharp approach shots to stifle the Pavlyuchenkova serve to take the lead.
Krejcikova to start proceedings on serve.
In walks the unseeded Barbora Krejcikova in her maiden Slam singles final and is followed by the senior Russian star, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova into the vibrant Court Philippe-Chatrier.
HERE. WE. GO!
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6:23pm: Seven minutes away from the final. A new champion is set to be crowned tonight in Paris.
NUMBERS GAME
FINALISTS SPEAK
Ahead of their first career meeting, here's what the maiden Slam finalists had to say:
Pavlyuchenkova: " I do everything just by nature and by what I feel, that's why I haven't celebrated it so much. It's my biggest final and now I don't think about my opponent. First final after 53 Grand Slam? I join the club of tennis players like Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci, I'm focused and I'd like to win. At least I want to try, that's what I want. I want to enjoy it, it will be a special moment. "
Krejcikova: " I think we (after beating Sakkari) both deserved the win for the way we played, but only one can win and I'm happy that it was me. Now I have the chance to play a new game in this tournament. The final? I've always wanted to play these kinds of games, these tournaments with great opponents and reach the utmost rounds. "
Stats Overview
MATCH PREVIEW
In another surprising French Open season, the women's game will witness the rise of a pristine champion at the Philippe-Chatrier tonight.
It's fully assured that no one, I repeat, no one would have predicted a lineup of Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova taking on the Czech Barbora Krejcikova in the singles final on the Parisian clay this time. The top seeds have fallen - both on-court and off it - this season.
But this has been no less a feat for the duo who have had a contrasting structure to their careers thus far.
Pavlyuchenkova, the forever trier, has pushed her frontiers finally by reaching her first final in a 14-year-long Grand Slam career. The Russian, who is aiming to become the first French Open winner from her nation since Maria Sharapova, has endured some stiff battles en route the summit clash.
Her opponent, 25-year-old Krejcikova has been a livewire throughout the tournament - the Czech star who is featuring in her first Slam singles final, has also booked her place in the women's doubles final in a bid to reclaim the title which she won back in 2018.
Krejcikova has put up sharp performance over the course of nine days - beating third seed Elina Svitolina before trouncing Americans Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff in the build-up to her first semi-final. A classic against Maria Sakkari had Krejcikova battle back from the brink. Her clarity on serve and precision helped her stay in the hunt until the end to see off a determined Sakkari.
ROAD TO FINAL
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Barbora Krejcikova
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