Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova made it to her first ever Grand Slam Final at the 2021 French Open

Pavlyuchenkova defeated Tamara Zidanšek of Slovenia in straight sets (7-5, 6-3) at the semi-finals of the French Open, 2021.

The Russian looked in her element today as she reached her first-ever Grand Slam Final after being in the pro-scene since 2005.

After going down fighting in the first set, the Slovenian tried to come back in the second, but a series of unforced errors and slick forehands from Pavlyuchenkova pegged her back.

Pavlyuchenkova will now meet the winner of the second semi-final between Maria Sakkari of Greece and Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.

She also did her country proud by becoming the first Russian woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Maria Sharapova at the 2015 Australian Open. Sharapova is also the last Russian woman to win the French Open.

The former world junior no.1, hadn’t made past the quarterfinals of any of the Grand Slams. At the age of 29, she has finally struck rich.

Here is how Maria Sharapova and others reacted to Pavlyuchenkova making it to her first Grand Slam final:

🥰🥰🥰 @NastiaPav pic.twitter.com/lRgTGw1eUT

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) June 10, 2021

Today, @NastiaPav scored her 71st win at the Slams, doing so in her 1st Slam SF, to reach her 1st Slam F, in what is also her 7th QF/better result at this level of competition!

All about 1s and 7s today #RG21 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/48OX9OeY6W

— silas (@silasofficial_) June 10, 2021

I am rooting for you, Anastasia! You've waited for so long for this to happen. This is your moment!

— Paolo (@PaoloJimenez) June 10, 2021

Excellent game and it turns out that her French 🇫🇷 is even better than her English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (she is Russian!) 😊

— exacta_king (@exacta_king) June 10, 2021

Russians this year showing us that it's never too late

— Edimator (@EdimatorYT) June 10, 2021

She looks in better position to win the tournament.

— Sanjeev Ghanekar (@SGGhanekar) June 10, 2021

Nice win Nastia. Crush Sakkari if she is ever to make the finals.

— Krammer (@Marky281415) June 10, 2021

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, long the best active player never to reach a Slam semifinal or WTA Top 10, gets a worthy lifetime achievement award with a spot in the French Open final after an excellent semifinal.

7-5, 6-3 over Zidansek.

Awaits Krejcikova or Sakkari in the final.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 10, 2021

Massive congratulations, i've been watching you're tennis for many years if anyone deserves a slam final it's you

— Martin (@jim07165581) June 10, 2021

Well done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

— Sheila Ferguson 3° (@SheilaDFerguson) June 10, 2021

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova breaks Roberta Vinci’s record

On reaching the final, Pavlyuchenkova became the first woman to feature in more than 50 majors before reaching a Grand Slam final. It came in her 52nd attempt.

17 years ago in Paris, Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva became the 1st women representing Russian to reach a major final.

Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina, Vera Zvonareva followed.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova adds her name to 🇷🇺 tennis history. #RG21 pic.twitter.com/L1Ep2xD5JC

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 10, 2021

The previous record was held by Italy’s Roberta Vinci who reached her first final at US Open 2015 after 44 major appearances.

Pavlyuchenkova will be hoping to carry her form into the final, and win her first Grand Slam title.

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