Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko fought back to stun third seed Simona Halep and become Latvia’s first Grand Slam champion at the French Open.
The 20-year-old trailed by a set and was 3-0 down in the second to Halep – who would have become world No 1 with a win – but prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Ostapenko, ranked 47th, had never won a Tour-level title before and was playing in only her eighth Grand Slam. She is the first unseeded woman to win at Roland Garros since 1933.
Halep, 25, was playing in her second French Open final, after losing in three sets to Maria Sharapova in 2014.
She had been the tournament favourite this time in the absence of Serena Williams, but again missed out on a first major title.
Ostapenko’s carefree attacking tennis ultimately proved too strong for the consistency and experience of Halep, with the favourite helpless in the closing stages.
The difference in approach was clear from the final statistics, Ostapenko ending with 54 winners and 54 errors to Halep’s eight winners and 10 errors.
Halep looked to have ridden out the storm after twice coming back from a break down to take the first set, with Ostapenko giving it up with her 23rd error and swiping her racquet in frustration.
The Romanian had played the percentages, with just one winner and two errors, and she looked set to end her wait for a major title when she moved 3-0 up in the second.
Then Ostapenko grabbed the momentum. She tore into the Halep second serve, stepping inside the baseline and attacking off both sides, and her power was simply too much for her opponent’s defence.
Halep took charge again early in the final set, getting the break at 3-1, after taking some pace off the ball and drawing an error, but again Ostapenko came straight back.
She stormed through the last five games in a row, apparently free of nerves, to clinch victory and grab her place among the elite of women’s tennis.
‘I always had the possibility I could hit the ball really hard,’ said Ostapenko. ‘If I have a chance to go for a shot, I’m trying.’
A 100-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, she will rise from 47th to 12th in the world rankings following her spectacular victory.
On Sunday, Rafael Nadal must overcome the spectacular shot-making of Stan Wawrinka if he is to win a record 10th French Open.
The Spaniard, 31, will become the first player in the open era to win a Grand Slam title 10 times if he wins.
Swiss third seed Wawrinka hit 87 winners as he beat world No 1 Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
Photo: Jean Catuffe
