When unseeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic takes the court Saturday in search of her first Grand Slam singles title, she’ll do so as the favorite.
Previously known as a doubles specialist, Krejcikova has also reached Sunday’s women’s doubles final with partner Katerina Siniakova, and they’ll attempt to back up their 2018 title at Roland Garros. But first, there is the matter of Krejcikova trying to claim the singles title.
She will face No. 31 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the first Grand Slam singles final for either player.
Krejcikova, 25, captured her maiden WTA Tour title last month at Strasbourg and is riding an 11-match winning streak. She is the -129 favorite at BetRivers to beat Pavlyuchenkova (+108), the 29-year-old who became the first woman to play in more than 50 majors before reaching her first career final.
Krejcikova is coming off a marathon three-set semifinal over No. 17 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece that lasted three hours, 18 minutes. Pavlyuchenkova swept Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 6-3 to reach Saturday’s final.
BetRivers has set the total games Over/Under at 21.5 and is offering a total sets prop market of +138 that the match will go three sets and -175 odds that it will be a straight-sets victory by one of the women.
The total minutes Over/Under has been set at 104.5.
The finals meeting between unheralded players has left less than two percent of the total championship futures bets and less than one percent of total futures handle remaining at the sportsbook.
A $3 pre-event wager on Pavlyuchenkova at 700/1 at BetRivers would pay out $2,103, while a $5 bet on Krejcikova at 200/1 would pay out $1,005.
Pavlyuchenkova played in her first Grand Slam event at age 15 when the Russian made the Wimbledon field as a wildcard in 2007.
“I had my own long special road,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “Everybody has different ways. I don’t know, I’m just happy I’m in the final. Trying to enjoy.
“I think about (winning a Grand Slam tournament) all the time. Been thinking about it since I was a junior, since I was a little kid, since I started playing tennis. That’s what you’re playing for. That’s what you want. It’s been there in my head forever.”
Krejcikova is seeking to become the first Czech woman to win the French Open since Hana Mandlikova in 1981.
–Field Level Media