A tall, big-hitting left-hander from the Czech Republic reached the final at the French Open but if you thought it was Petra Kvitova, guess again.
Lucie Safarova was the player instead, the 13th seed defeating Ana Ivanovic 7-5 7-5 on a steamy Thursday in Paris to advance to a maiden grand slam final. In Saturday’s conclusion to the women’s event, the 28-year-old meets either world No. 1 Serena Williams or 23rd-seed Timea Bacsinszky.
It was Bacsinszky who upset reigning Wimbledon champion Kvitova in the fourth round, although no one this fortnight has managed to unsettle her 28-year-old Fed Cup teammate — including Maria Sharapova.
Safarova brushed aside the 2014 winner in the fourth round and has yet to concede a set.
Ivanovic ousted Safarova on the way to collecting her first and only grand slam crown in Paris in 2008 but their encounter last year at Roland Garros proved to be more of a predictor for this year’s battle — Safarova triumphed in straight sets in the third round.
Safarova famously missed a match point — fractionally long — against eventual champion Li Na at last year’s Australian Open but didn’t let the disappointment linger.
She subsequently made the semifinals at Wimbledon, helped the Czech Republic win the Fed Cup title in November and this March achieved a career-high of No. 11.
Just by landing in the semis in Paris, she was sure to move into the top 10.
“I think she’s always known she’s had the potential,” Safarova’s coach, Rob Steckley, told CNN this week. “She’s just maturing. We all do. As she matures and starts to grow, she realizes what she hasn’t done and what she has done and she kind of puts it together in a nice package now where she’s able to accept and take control.
“She took things a little bit too seriously before and put a bit too much pressure on herself. I think she’s just loosened up a lot. She’s enjoying the moment and trying to figure out from there how to keep trying to get better.
“And with each milestone I think she accomplishes, she gains more confidence and realizes that this is finally happening and that she belongs.”
Ivanovic — contesting her first grand slam semifinal since the 2008 French Open — started much the stronger. While she was sharp, though, Safarova committed a flurry of unforced errors.
Ivanovic paid the price, however, for not capitalizing when she held two break points at 4-1. Leading 5-2, she wouldn’t win another game in the first, striking two double faults at 5-5 to trail for the first time.
Clutch serving helped Safarova save two break points at 0-1 in the second — a deflated Ivanovic was then broken in the ensuing game.
They moved along until a dramatic 10th game.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Safarova hit three double faults, one on match point. The crowd, wanting a third set, roared with delight when Ivanovic leveled.
Their joy was short-lived.
Safarova quickly broke back and on her second attempt got the job done, sealing the contest with an inside-out forehand before dropping to the clay.
Williams carries a 23-3 record in grand slam semifinals into her tussle with Bacsinszky, beaten only by major winners Venus Williams, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.