A HUGE first Roland Garros semi-final has been set, after Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Slovenian Tamara Zidansek both overcame tough opposition to win in three sets and in the process, both enter the semi-final stage of a grand slam for the first time. Both players were forced into overtime third set deciders against their respective higher ranked opposition.

Unseeded Zidansek is making waves at the Roland Garros this year, coming into the tournament with zero wins at the event previously, and has proven a tough contender on the clay making history by reaching the quarter finals as the first Slovenian woman to do so at a Grand Slam, before going one better by making the semis.

The Slovenian 23-year-old required a tough three sets, 7-5 4-6 8-6 to take down 33rd seed Paula Badosa, with the Spaniard in ripping form and relentless in her approach. Ranked 85th in the world to Badosa’s 35, Zidansek came out firing and did not relent throughout, hitting 48 winners to Badosa’s 31, but also piling on a whopping 39 unforced errors – still less than Badosa’s 47 – in the huge matchup.

“Winning the first round was a big breakthrough for me,” Zidansek said, having defeated sixth seed Bianca Andreescu in her opening match. “I got a lot of confidence from that.

“Before the tournament I was feeling really good. I was playing good, especially on clay. Had some good matches. When it started to click? I don’t know. I just kept going match by match. Every day is a chapter for itself. I’m just going to keep doing that and hope for the best.”

The Slovenian credited her sports psychologist for the mental strength with which she commanded control of the game when the going got tough.

“I have always been super interested in what people think, you know, how does it work,” said Zidansek. “He’s helped me a lot. Once you get to this stage, it’s all about mental game. It’s about believing that you can go out there. It’s not like you can hit the ball harder or you can run faster.

“OK, maybe you can improve a little bit in that, but it’s about believing. Just self-confidence, trying to compose yourself in the tough situations and just keep fighting. That takes a lot of mental preparation and a lot of energy. He’s helped me a lot with that.”

For Badosa, it appeared to be nerves and overthinking which got in the way of her maiden slam semi-final, explaining that she did not feel quite right throughout the clash.

“It was a tough one,” Badosa said. “I think she played a good match. I didn’t feel myself in the whole match. I’m a little bit sad about that, because I think I played maybe the worst match of the tournament and of the clay season, but sometimes it’s like that.

“I think I was very nervous. I couldn’t control the nerves during the entire match. But at least I fight until the last moment and I had my chances. But, well, credit to her.”

“When you want it so, so much, maybe sometimes it’s a little bit too much, and I was putting a little bit too much pressure on myself. I think that’s a little bit the next time, if I have another opportunity like this, I will try to change. Of course the nerves are always there, but I think today was a little bit too much.”

Zidansek will take on fellow maiden semi-final slam entry in 31st seed Pavlyuchenkova, who overcame 21st seed Kazakh and doubles partner Elena Rybakina in another tough battle, eventually reigning supreme 6-7(2) 6-2 9-7 in just over two and a half hours.

“I actually have always wanted to be in the semi-finals so much before that I think I have achieved it now and I’m sort of neutral reaction. Of course, I’m happy, but I feel like I’m doing my work, I’m doing my job,” Pavlyuchenkova said.

“There are still matches to go through, still work to be done. So I just look at this like that. Trying to enjoy this moment as much as I can but not giving so much importance as well. Take in the present and then see.”

Pavlyuchenkova was cleaner in her approach than her opposition, hitting less winners but getting more out of her service games to pile on the pressure. With just 28 unforced errors to Rybakina’s 43, the Russian was marginally more influential on both her first and second serves, all off a 69 per cent clip.

“I think I have always had the game. I wasn’t fit enough and mentally maybe not strong enough, where I’m working on this aspect, working with a sports psychologist now quite recent, and already I feel like it’s starting to pay off.”

The Russian has also elevated her game by adding coaching to her repertoire, teaming up with brother Aleksandr.

“My brother, even now we were talking a bit, he teach me how to play smarter, to read the game, which I actually like sometimes don’t read the game well,” Pavlyuchenkova said. So that also helps, of course. Just those few things have helped.”

ROLAND GARROS QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[31] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) defeated [21] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 6-7 6-2 9-7
Tamara Zidansek (SLO) defeated [33] Paula Badosa (ESP) 7-5 4-6 8-6

Picture credit: Julien Crosnier / FFT