PARIS —
Iga Swiatek received her third consecutive French Open championship and fourth in 5 years after beating Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1 within the remaining on Saturday.
Swiatek trailed 2-1 early on Court docket Philippe Chatrier, however proceeded to win 10 straight video games to take the primary set and take a 5-0 lead within the second. The primary in ladies’s tennis stretched her undefeated streak to 21 matches at Roland Garros, the place her lifetime report is 35-2.
The 23-year-old Pole turned the primary lady to carry the champion’s cup thrice in a row in Paris since Justine Henin between 2005 and 2007.
“It is wonderful to be right here, I like it and I wish to come again yearly,” Swiatek mentioned on the awards ceremony. “It’s a very vibrant event.”
Swiatek additionally received the 2020 French Open and the 2022 US Open, and went 5-0 in Grand Slam finals.
“Iga, I’ve to congratulate you,” mentioned Paolini, a 28-year-old Italian, who performed in her first Slam remaining. “I feel taking part in with you is the hardest problem on this sport.”
The Twelfth seed had by no means gotten previous the second spherical in any of tennis’s huge 4 till she superior to the fourth spherical of the Australian Open in January. Paolini will compete within the ladies’s doubles remaining on Sunday alongside her compatriot Sara Errani towards Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova.
After getting an enormous scare within the second spherical towards Naomi Osaka, when Swiatek saved a match level, this was her fifth straight victory. Swiatek received each set in that stretch, giving up simply 17 video games.
“Iga, I’ve to congratulate you,” mentioned Paolini must say congratulations to you, Iga,” mentioned the Twelfth-seeded Paolinia 28-year-old from Italy showing in her first Slam remaining. “I feel to play you right here is the hardest problem on this sport.”
On Saturday, shouts of “Let’s go Jasmine!” from the 2 rows on the backside of the stadium that have been populated with Paolini supporters, all sporting t-shirts with one of many colours of the Italian flag: inexperienced, white or pink.
Within the toss of the coin, Paolini remained silent. Swiatek, in the meantime, moved restlessly backward and forward.
After the Pole took the primary level of the match, a fan shouted in French: “Jasmine, it isn’t over!”
And, for a short second, he gave the impression to be proper. Swiatek faltered for some time, lacking a break level within the second sport, then dropping serve — with a poorly executed forehand — to path 2-1 after 13 minutes.
It was Swiatek’s seventh unforced error of the afternoon; Paolini had barely dedicated one.
Was a catastrophe brewing? May Paolini battle and win?
It did not take lengthy for Swiatek to place issues so as.
