Iga Swiatek came to the French Open as a big favorite to win a women’s Grand Slam title like virtually any player since Serena Williams ’last maximum years, and she certainly knew it. Over the last two weeks, she sailed through all the pressure and emotions and, in a show that reminded me of all the previous great champions, in the end she just made it stronger.
Swiatek finished the job with supreme efficiency, overwhelming and beating Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 to win his second Grand Slam title at the French Open, where he also won the first in 2020. victory is his crown. an amazing race, totaling 35 wins in a row and continuing. He has won six titles in a row.
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Along with its winning streak, which equals Venus Williams’ 21st century record, Swiatek is now 21-2 (91%) at the French Open, the third-best record in women’s tournament history, after having won the event twice in his first. four years as a senior. Such is her dominance over the rest of the field, the Pole now has almost twice as many ranking points (8,631) as the world number 2, Anett Kontaveit (4,325).
The supreme aura that Swiatek has generated over the past four months has been reflected in audience loyalties. From the moment he entered the track they were desperately cheering on Gauff. After an unforced error at the starting point, a spectator shouted, “Coco, it’s not over!” in French to general laughter. When he made a double foul on the second point, the audience gave a long and forceful ovation as if the American was already losing by a set and a break.
None of this positive energy had any effect in the early stages. The first hurdle of a first Grand Slam final is the nerves that can get in anyone, and since Gauff lost his first game of service in a rain of legal errors, he was clearly not calm. .
With Swiatek constantly pointing to his right itch, Gauff took 22 minutes to reach his first Grand Slam final match and relaxed. But its main problem remained unstoppable force across the network. Swiatek continued to get short balls from Gauff in his right-to-right exchanges from the court of two, which he swept as he continually broke the American’s second serve.
The second set started with a surprise, Swiatek opened with three wild errors and lost his service with ease. When Gauff cheered and attacked with a live to make it 2-0, the audience applauded as loud as possible. But Gauff’s career was short-lived, and his attempts to equalize Swiatek’s attack resulted in too many mistakes. The Pole regained control and put relentless pressure to the end.
Iga Swiatek celebrates winning the final point. Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters
While most people predicted what Swiatek has achieved two weeks ago, none of this should be taken lightly. The speed with which she climbed to the top has been remarkable after starting the ninth season, a quality player among many.
He has maintained that level even when former No. 1 Ashleigh Barty unexpectedly retired and inadvertently put him in the rankings. Even when this streak demanded so much of him, with the help of his coach and physiotherapist, he managed the pressure and emotions as well as he could and found his best tennis whenever he needed it.
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While the WTA has been looking for a young star who can carry the burden of being No. 1, winning consistently and everywhere, Swiatek has arrived. She will continue to fight for the top titles and may be on the verge of a level of dominance at the French Open that has not been seen in the women’s game since Justine Henin 15 years ago.