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Iga Swiatek moved one step closer to capturing her fourth French Open title with a hard-fought 6-2, 6-4 victory over Coco Gauff on Thursday. Swiatek’s win secures her place in the finals, where she aims to claim her third consecutive Roland Garros championship.
“For sure, it was intense,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview, via George Ramsay of CNN. “In the second set it was kind of tight because we were breaking each other. I’m happy that I was consistent with my tactics, didn’t overthink stuff and just went for it at the end.”
The 23-year-old’s performance against Gauff showcased her resilience and tactical consistency. Despite a closely contested second set, Swiatek maintained her composure, breaking Gauff's serve early and holding her lead. The Polish star extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 20 matches and her overall streak to 18 in all competitions. Swiatek has now defeated Gauff in 11 of their past 12 encounters, including their previous two French Open meetings.
In the opening set, Swiatek took control by breaking Gauff in the first game and again at 3-1. Gauff struggled to find her rhythm, frequently missing her marks, and ultimately handed the set to Swiatek with a forehand error. The second set saw heightened emotions as Gauff argued with the chair umpire over a disputed call. Despite breaking Swiatek’s serve to lead 3-1, Gauff couldn't sustain her advantage. Swiatek responded by winning four consecutive games, regaining control and closing out the match after Gauff saved three match points but ultimately missed a forehand on the fourth.
Iga Swiatek setting sights on fifth Grand Slam title
Swiatek's victory sets up a finals clash with either Russia’s Mirra Andreeva or Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. She stands as the strong favorite, aiming to secure her fifth Grand Slam title. She could become the first woman to win three consecutive titles since Justine Henin achieved the feat from 2007 to 2009, via the Associated Press. Swiatek’s track record in major finals is perfect, boasting a 4-0 record. Her path to this year's final has been dominating, with her only major challenge coming in a three-set second-round match against Naomi Osaka, where she had to save a match point.
Throughout the tournament, Swiatek displayed her signature powerful yet precise groundstrokes, which were on full display against Gauff. She managed 10 winners and kept her unforced errors to just 14, compared to Gauff’s 39.
Gauff, despite her efforts, was unable to convert key break points in Swiatek’s early service games. Her frustration was evident through her body language and interactions with the umpire.
Swiatek’s journey through the tournament has been marked by her ability to maintain focus. Her win over Gauff, a repeat of last year’s French Open quarterfinals and the 2022 final, highlights her dominance on clay. The support from the crowd, who chanted “Iga! Iga!” as she secured her win, reflects her growing popularity.
