Stat of the Day: 52nd major, 1st final for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Some players reach their first major final quickly—Venus Williams did it in the third major she played, Bianca Andreescu in her fourth, for instance. Aslan Karatsev almost did it in his first this year.

But for some players, it takes a little more time—and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova just made history by reaching the final of Roland Garros on Thursday, becoming the first woman in the Open Era to play more than 50 majors before reaching their first final. This is the Russian’s 52nd career major played.

“Fourteen-year-old me would tell me, like, ‘What took you so long?’” she joked afterwards.

“It’s tough to really talk about it right now, I don’t know, it’s been a long road. I had my own long, special road. Everybody has different ways. I’m just happy I’m in the final. Trying to enjoy, try to do better.”

Before Pavlyuchenkova reached the 2021 Roland Garros final in her 52nd major, Roberta Vinci held the record, reaching the 2015 US Open final in her 44th major (finishing runner-up to Flavia Pennetta).

The record for most majors played by a woman in the Open Era before winning their first major is currently held by Francesca Schiavone, who captured the 2010 Roland Garros title in her 39th major played.