World No.85 Tamara Zidansek was a surprise package at this year’s French Open. Unfortunately, her run came to an end in the semifinals after losing to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova yesterday in Paris.
The Slovenian player had dropped only three sets on her way to the semifinals of Roland Garros. She started her campaign by upsetting the former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in three sets. Later on, Zidansek even beat
Sorana Cirstea and Katerina Siniakova. The 85th-ranked Zidansek also became the first Slovenian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
The 23-year-old was kicked off the clay court swing by making the finals in Bogota. Although she remained a qualifier in other clay court events leading to the French Open, her performance in Paris will propel her ahead in the WTA rankings, which could mean she will be exempted from playing the qualifiers moving ahead.
Zindansek confident of standing up against the top players
“Well I have learnt that I can play good against the top players, so I am just going to take it all in and prepare for the next tournament. Yes it was a good match. Semifinals of the grand slam, so I was nervous, but who isn’t? I did have my chances in the first set, but didn’t take it. I fought till the end and I am happy with the way I stood today in the semis,” Zidansek told the press in Paris.
“We all dream of making it big at the Grand Slams. I remember playing Grand Slams as a junior and I was overwhelmed. It took me a few years to get used to the big tournaments. And that fact that I managed to play this well and get this far tells me that I can play at this stage. I am really happy with that. Will try to work even harder and I am looking forward to the next tournament.”
Zindansek will now be seen at Wimbledon, where she is yet to make it past the second round.
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