[ad_1]
Poland’s Iga Swiatek continued her dominance on Parisian clay by winning her third French Open title in the past four years, as she defeated unseeded Czech Karolina Mochova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a thrilling final to win her fourth Grand Slam title on Saturday.
Swiatek has now lost just two of his 26 Grand Slam matches since moving up to world number one in April last year, and the 22-year-old becomes the youngest woman to claim back-to-back titles at Roland Garros since Monica Seles, who triumphed from 1990-92. .
The US Open champion also joins Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only woman in the Open Era to emerge victorious in each of her first four Grand Finals, but was forced to work hard despite a fast start.
That moment 🥹🇵🇱#Roland Garros #Paris @tweet WTA pic.twitter.com/Dy0NnNLOZD
– Roland Garros (rolandgarros) June 10, 2023
Swiatek worked the corners brilliantly from the baseline and took a 3-0 lead on a warm and windy afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier before world number 43 Muchova calmed nerves, got up on the board and threatened to break.
Muchova had chances in the fifth game of the first set, but the 26-year-old struggled to finish it off and found herself in more trouble in the next before energetically bailing out thanks to a fine volley and backhand winner.
The Czech, who was victorious the only time the pair faced each other in Prague in 2019, launched herself on Swiatek’s second serve but hit several errors and allowed her opponent to lift a set in 44 minutes with another break.
Iga + Slam Finals = W
Roland Garros 2020
🏆 2022 Roland Garros
🏆 US Open 2022
🏆 2023 Roland Garros#Roland Garros pic.twitter.com/GoTdJpJcCZ– Roland Garros (rolandgarros) June 10, 2023
Swiatek continued to capitalize on Muchova’s mistakes from the baseline and on the net to take a solid 3-0 lead in the second set, but the Czech rocketed a forehand to break the baseline and then tie it at 3-3.
Muchova started to grow more confident and attacked with more precision to pile pressure on Swiatek, who double-faulted to give Muchova a chance to even things up in the next bout but there was another twist to the story.
After breaking back to make it 5-5, Swiatek succumbed to serve again but saved two points before Muchova magically hit a full stretch to set up another and eventually force a decision.
speech 👏#Roland Garros | @tweet pic.twitter.com/ipWLA9kL9B
– Roland Garros (rolandgarros) June 10, 2023
Muchova was full of self-confidence, having upset Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the semi-finals, and taking the lead in the final set, but Swiatek shrugged off the early break and picked up the momentum by winning three straight matches.
The Polish top seed dropped serve in the seventh game but immediately recovered and held on tight for the title she sealed when Muchova double-faulted to set up emotional scenes on center court.
Swiatek’s third victory in Paris set her level with the greats and three-time modern era champions Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
[ad_2]
