Iga Swiatek battled previous Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to win her third French Open title on Saturday and turn into the primary lady to efficiently defend the Roland Garros title since 2007. The 22-year-old Swiatek is simply the third lady within the Open period to win every of her first 4 Grand Slam finals, the Pole including to her 2020 and 2022 titles in Paris and final yr’s US Open triumph. Monica Seles and Naomi Osaka are the one different gamers to perform the feat. Swiatek, the world primary from Poland, can also be the youngest lady to assert back-to-back French Open titles since Monica Seles within the early Nineties.

Justine Henin was the final lady to win successive Roland Garros crowns when she captured her third in a row and fourth in complete 16 years in the past.

Swiatek’s newest coronation caps one other dominant two weeks on the clay in Paris, the place her document stands at 28 wins and two losses in 5 visits.

Muchova, at 43 on the planet, was the fourth lowest ranked lady to succeed in the French Open ultimate, her first championship match at a significant.

Swiatek, then simply 19, was ranked 54 when she lifted her first trophy — three years after Jelena Ostapenko’s shock triumph. Muchova’s compatriot Renata Tomanova was runner-up in 1976.

However, the unseeded Czech had received all 5 matches in her profession towards gamers within the high three — 4 of them at Grand Slams — having surprised Aryna Sabalenka within the semi-finals.

On guard towards an underdog with a behavior of taking these down on the high, Swiatek shortly utilized strain on the 26-year-old Muchova.

A miscued forehand from Muchova gave the Pole two break factors within the second sport which she took with minimal fuss.

The high seed consolidated with a fast maintain earlier than Muchova bought on the board in sport 4, drawing loud roars from the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.

Muchova carved out a break alternative to get again on serve however Swiatek snuffed it out in a protracted fifth sport — pumping her fist in reduction as she surged 4-1 up.

Swiatek noticed one other break level come and go the next sport, however her disappointment was temporary as she simply received the subsequent two video games to wrap up the opening set.

Muchova had outfoxed her rivals together with her crafty selection all through the match, however Swiatek had clearly accomplished her homework for the reason that Czech received their solely different assembly in Prague in 2019.

A unfastened service sport allowed Swiatek to drag 3-0 in entrance within the second set, however Muchova refused to roll over, displaying the grit and resolve she used to rally from match level down towards Sabalenka within the earlier spherical.

A crunching forehand down the road retrieved the break earlier than Muchova levelled at three video games every.

Swiatek slowed Muchova’s momentum because the pair traded holds earlier than the reigning champion confirmed her first actual signal of nerves, double-faulting to depart her rival serving at 5-4 to drive a decider.

Muchova could not take benefit as Swiatek broke proper again, however one other shaky sport from the Pole offered her with one other shot.

Two set factors handed Muchova by however she arrange a 3rd with a superb backhand volley on the stretch, with Swiatek then pumping her return lengthy to ship the match to a 3rd set.

Muchova sensed the tide was handing over her favour as Swiatek’s title defence started to creak, the Pole damaged to like as her opponent rattled off eight straight factors to maneuver 2-0 forward.

But together with her formidable document at Roland Garros, Swiatek got here storming again and snatched three video games on the bounce.

Muchova broke for 4-3 just for Swiatek to hit again instantly after which safe a nervy maintain, resisting one other break level, to maneuver inside a sport of victory.

Swiatek swiftly raced 30-0 forward and earned two championship factors when Muchova dragged a forehand vast, the Czech succumbing in probably the most brutal of the way with a double fault to finish an exhilarating contest.

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