Jelena Ostapenko got the best birthday gift with a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 victory over Timea Bacsinszky in the semifinals at the 2017 French Open here on Thursday, earning her a maiden appearance in a Grand Slam final.
On the day she turned 20 the free-swinging world No.47 launched a fusillade of 50 winners to become the first unseeded player to reach the women's singles final at Roland Garros since Mima Jausovec lost to Chris Evert in 1983.
Ostapenko celebrated her 20th birthday by crushing Bacsinszky's hopes with a nerve-jangling 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 victory, which included a total of 16 breaks of serve on a sweltering Court Philippe-Chatrier.
She is the first unseeded woman to reach the French Open final for 34 years. "We are trying to improve my game and I think it's working pretty well". And the backhand down the line at match point, I was like: "'Was it match point for her?' It was better, actually (not knowing)". "Is she mature enough to play Bacsinszky and not just close her eyes and blaze away?"
It looked like the same might happen in the third set when Bacsinszky fought back from 3-1 to 3-3 but Ostapenko had learned her lesson and clinched victory with a forehand into the corner - her 50th victor.
Fifth seed Svitolina had looked well-set to become the first Ukrainian woman to make a Grand Slam semi-final.
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"Now I'm just figuring it all out, and obviously there are things to think about and to work on, and we'll see where it takes me". It's a habit that players tend to grow out of, when the importance of winning changes, but for now she goes for broke.
The No. 3-seeded Halep made an unlikely comeback in her quarterfinal match against No. 5 Elina Svitolina, trailing a set and two breaks, with her opponent serving for the match, but coming from the brink to win 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0.
In the end, she could at least reflect on progress in Paris - before this year, she had never got beyond the second round in five attempts. Ostapenko's run is all the more remarkable given her third-round exit at this year's Australian Open represented her best previous Grand Slam performance. If Halep wins today but loses on Saturday, then Kerber stays at the top. I love to play here, I love you guys, you're wonderful.
"It was extremely tough today as Karolina is a very tough opponent".
Mixed in with her scintillating winners, including forehands faster than anything men's world No.1 Andy Murray has managed in Paris so far, were 45 unforced errors.
After being sent left and right to chase the ball as Pliskova dictated the point with her forehand, the Romanian, two metres from her baseline, unleashed a gravity-defying forehand passing shot to break for 3-1.
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