History beckons Ostapenko

The American questioned which of the last four survivors -- Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, Timea Bacsinszky or Jelena Ostapenko -- would rise to the challenge of winning their first grand slam in the absence of so many big names. 

“We need new stars,” claycourt great Evert told an event hosted by broadcaster Eurosport, for whom she is working as a pundit during the French Open. 

“You have two options. You either rise to it and are really excited to win a first grand slam or you get afraid and shy away from it. Who is mentally prepared to handle it?” A few hours later she had her answer as Ostapenko, the youngest, lowest-ranked and least experienced of the quartet produced a fearless performance to beat Bacsinszky in three absorbing sets -- belting 50 winners in the process. 

Ostapenko, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Thursday, had never won a match at the French Open before last week. Now she stands one match away from becoming the first unseeded player in the professional era to win the women’s title at the French Open and the first Latvian Grand Slam champion. She meets Halep in the final. 

Ostapenko trained as a ballroom dancer for seven years but seems more suited to thrashing the fluff off tennis balls.