Belarusian World No. 1 Aryna defeats Poland’s three-time defending champion Iga 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 to reach her first Roland Garros final
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her win over Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek’s French Open reign with a devastating third-set performance on Thursday to tee up a Roland Garros final against either Coco Gauff or France’s surprise hero Lois Boisson.
The Belarusian snapped Swiatek’s French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-0 success to reach her first final in the clay-court Grand Slam.
‘Toughest opponent’
“Iga is the toughest opponent, especially on the clay and at Roland Garros,” said Sabalenka after becoming the first player to defeat Swiatek in a deciding set at the French Open. “I’m proud that I was able to get this win.”
Iga Swiatek wears a dejected look during her loss to Aryna Sabalenka yesterday
Sabalenka edged a topsy-turvy first set that featured eight breaks of serve in a tie-break, before Swiatek hit back to level the match. The finale turned out to be a complete anti-climax, as Swiatek made 12 unforced errors in the third set and won only six points.
“I’m glad that I found my serve. It was a bit easier with the serve,” added the 27-year-old Sabalenka. “What can I say, 6-0 — it couldn’t be much more perfect than that!” Sabalenka is targeting a fourth Grand Slam title and first not on hard courts, after winning last year’s US Open and the Australian Open back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
Poor form, a factor
Swiatek has still not reached a WTA final since lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen 12 months ago.
She showed signs of a revival on the Paris clay where she has dominated since winning as a teenager in 2020, but her game deserted her in the deciding set as she slipped to only the third French Open defeat of her career. Sabalenka has now won their last two meetings, and five of 13 in total.
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