"So close and so far" - says Pavlyuchenkova after unexpected run to Roland Garros final

The 2021 Roland Garros was a truly unexpected affair but for Pavlyuchenkova, it was a fun experience that ultimately ended without the desired result.

The Russian player had a very strong run to the Roland Garros final defeating some stellar opposition along the way. In the end she could not win the event but the Russian has no regrets. Speaking at the post-match press conference she said:

“I was so close and so far at the same time. I’ll continue to play match by match, tournament by tournament. I believe in my game, in me, and I’m a fighter. That’s how I made for this tournament. What else [is] needed? It’s never easy to be runner-up, but I have to be grateful for these two weeks."

The run to the finals was an unexpected one for everyone including herself. She explained:

“Honestly for me it’s unexpected, semi in Madrid and final here. Before Madrid, my brother told me at a cafe: ‘I believe in you this year’. I started with a psychologist before Madrid. I said to myself that I wanted to improve everything and make everything 100%. She helps me to be myself on and off the court, that helps a lot."

Unfortunately, the Russian was also hampered by a leg injury which forced her to take a medical timeout during the match. Asked about it she explained:

“My leg? Well, I didn’t mention that much, but during the Sabalenka match, I had pain and I don’t know how I finished. I had a problem with my knee and then I compensated. The more I play, the worse it is. When I served I had problems. Physically I wasn’t feeling 100%. But by competing and enjoying, you can go there.”