JELENA OSTAPENKO stunned tennis and Simona Halep with an incredible comeback victory.
But maybe it was written in the stars.
The last player to win their first title of any kind in a French Open final was Gustavo Kuerten.
And that was on the day, 20 years ago, when Ostapenko, the new star of the women’s game, was born.
The Latvian came from a set and break down – and another break down in the decider – to defeat poor Halep.
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The Romanian’s capitulation under the barrage of winners and the pressure of chasing her own maiden Slam combined to produce the biggest collapse since Sabine Lisicki let slip a winning position in her 2013 Wimbledon final against Marion Bartoli.
The world No 47 deserves all the credit, though, for making the most of her unlikely chance and becoming the first unseeded player to win the women’s crown at Roland Garros since 1933.
Ostapenko said: “I can’t believe that I’m Roland Garros champion and I am only 20 years old.
“When I was a child I was watching the players playing here. To be here and to win the title, I feel so amazing.”
Ostapenko, watched on by model Bella Hadid and her pals, hit winner after winner – 54 in total – and did not allow the swings of a compelling match to demoralise her.
She won six games in a row to deny Halep the title which seemed to be hers and the world No 1 slot which would have come with it.
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It was a worthy final. Court Phillipe Chatrier was full for the first time in the fortnight. The atmosphere was enhanced by Halep’s box leading the Romanian contingent in chants of “Si-mo-na”. But back came some of the French crowd with “Je-le-na”.
A match in which both players struggled to hold serve began with two breaks and when Ostapenko broke again for a 3-2 lead, back came Halep.
The Latvian pumper her arms in triumph when she held for 4-4 but then the set slipped away from her.
Halep held from 0/30 down and some bad missed by Ostapenko gave her a set point, which she gladly took.
When the Romanian moved into a 3-0 lead and had points for a double break and 4-0 lead, the match looked likely to finish quickly, perhaps inside an hour.
Ostapenko said: “I knew that Simona was a great player.
“I was just trying to play aggressive, to play my game.
“A couple of games decided it, then everything went my way.”
Ostapenko showed fight beyond her years and won four games in a row to be up by a break herself.
Halep levelled it at 4-4 but then lost her serve to love. Ostapenko found enough winners to serve out the set and Court Philippe Chatrier, apart from the Romanian contingent, rose to hail her skill and bravery.
Halep looked on the verge of a meltdown and, unlike on the main’s women’s tour, there was no chance for coach Darren Cahill to come on court and try to calm her down.
Ostapenko had two break points in the opening game of the decider but Halep clung on.
The world No 4 went a break up at 3-1 but lost her own serve immediately.
Viewers of the match tweeted about the outstanding performance from both players:
Some unbelievable tennis is this women's #FrenchOpen final.
— Mícheál Nagle (@Micheal_Nagle) June 10, 2017
You need a bit of luck to win Grand Slams and Ostapenko got hers. Her backhand hit the tape and dribbled on to the opposite side on the second of her break points at 3-3 and suddenly she was two games from the title.
A slightly mishit backhand return brought up championship point on the Halep serve. And one more sublime backhand down the line claimed a remarkable victory.
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