Paris, June : Bookmakers favourite Poland’s Iga Swiatek beat American teenager Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 after producing a performance worthy of a world No.1 in the final of the French Open here at Roland Garros.
This was Swiatek’s second Roland-Garros title win in three years, her first being in 2020 and 35th straight match that tied her with Venus Williams’ streak from the year 2000.
She became the fourth-youngest multiple Roland-Garros champion in the Open Era after Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert and is the youngest to claim two majors since Maria Sharapova in 2006.
Swiatek is the first woman to win six titles in a row since Justine Henin in 2007/2008 and hasn’t lost a match since February.
Sixteen minutes into the match, the Pole earned double break for 3-0. She was on song as she changed direction at will and flicked a forehand winner with the set in sight. She won the set after 32 minutes and her rival needed to regroup fast.
Gauff immediately wiped her slate clean. A pair of uncharacteristic backhand errors from her rival helped her secure a break in the opening game of the second set but from 2-0 up, she could not sustain the advantage.
As the match approached one hour, the floodlights on Chatrier were lit as heavy clouds and a rampant world No.1 closed in. A seventh backhand winner threaded down the line carried her to within sight of the finish line.
After 68 minutes, Swaitek served out a decisive triumph. Her crown was reclaimed and her unbeaten reign extended.
“I am pretty happy every piece has finally come together… Two years ago winning this title was something amazing,” Swiatek said.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t expect it ever but this time I feel like I worked hard, did everything to get here. Even though it was pretty tough, the pressure was big… Really I have extra motivation every time I am coming here, so I love to be back,” she said.
Fighting back tears during the Polish national anthem, the biggest ovation was reserved when she delivered a special message to her country’s neighbour, Ukraine.
“I want at the end to say something to Ukraine. Stay strong because the world is still there,” Swiatek said.
“Since my first (winner’s) speech in Doha, basically I was hoping that when I’m going to do the next one that the situation is going to get better, but I’m still going to have hopes and try to support.”
With agency inputs
