Reuters: Unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova completed a remarkable transition from a doubles specialist to a Grand Slam singles champion on Saturday by conquering Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final of the French Open.

The 25-year-old, a former doubles number one, defeated Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 2-6 6-4 to become the first Czech to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Hana Mandlikova, who represented former Czechoslovakia, triumphed in 1981.

Krejcikova was languishing outside the top 100 before last September’s edition of the French Open — her preparations restricted to a series of ITF Circuit events back home — but a run to the fourth round in Paris changed her singles career.

Her preparations were much more solid this year as she won her maiden WTA title in Strasbourg in the run-up to Roland Garros. Following Saturday’s win, Krejcikova extended her winning run to 12 matches. She entered Paris at a career-high 33rd spot and will further rise to 15th when the rankings are updated on Monday. “It’s hard to put words together right now. I can’t believe what has just happened, that I’ve just won a Grand Slam,” said Krejcikova, who became a first-time women’s major winner in Paris for the sixth successive year.

After suffering the ignominy of numerous qualifying losses at the Grand Slams, Krejcikova won the ultimate prize in claycourt tennis in only her fifth main draw singles appearance at a major.

Krejcikova could walk away with even more silverware from Paris this weekend as she will be back on court on Sunday with fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova, with the duo attempting to win their second Roland Garros doubles title following their success in 2018.

The win will also see her reclaim the top doubles ranking. “Pretty much her last words were ‘just enjoy and just try to win a Grand Slam’. I know somewhere she’s looking over me,” Krejcikova said of the 1998 Wimbledon champion, who died of cancer in 2017.

 “She was such an inspiration for me. I just really miss her. I hope she’s happy right now.”

‘Extraordinary’ Krejcikova doubles up at French Open