World No.1 Iga Swiatek will play for her fourth Grand Slam title, and third at Roland Garros, in two days' time after beating No.14 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 7-6(7) in Thursday's second semifinal on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Just as she did in 2020, when she won her first Grand Slam title as the unseeded World No.54, Swiatek hasn't dropped a set en route to the final. On Saturday, she will face unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, who saved a match point in a stirring 3 hour, 13-minute comeback against Swiatek's win, coupled with Sabalenka's defeat, also ensured that the Pole will retain the No.1 ranking after Roland Garros concludes, whatever the result against Muchova.
"I'm just pretty happy to be in the final again," Swiatek said afterwards. "It was a tough match, and especially second set, every point counted. It was stressful in some moments, so I'm happy that I was really solid and I was able to close it in the tiebreaker.
"It wasn't easy, and Beatriz really played well. I'm just happy."
How the match was won: Though she improved to 12-0 in sets at the event with the 2 hour, 9-minute win, Swiatek came the closest she's come to being pushed the distance against Haddad Maia. She saved a set point in the second-set tiebreak, and eight games marked the most she lost in her six matches so far this fortnight.o.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Haddad Maia, who beat Swiatek in three sets on hard courts last summer in Toronto, was ahead 5-3 in the tiebreak and had a chance to extend the match at 6-5, but missed a forehand in the net at that juncture. The Brazilian, who won from a set down in the fourth round and quarterfinals to become the first woman from her country to reach the Roland Garros semifinals, had previously led 3-1 in the second set, and also had three break points against Swiatek's serve at 4-4.
"She's really using the fact that she's a lefty," Swiatek said. "She's really using her spin on the serve. It's just tactically a little bit different. You always have to kind of address and switch most of the things that you do on court because she's a lefty.
"I just knew that I can really use my power on clay and even make it physical if I need to."
Scouting Swiatek vs. Muchova: After turning around an 0-1 head-to-head against Haddad Maia, Swiatek will seek to do it against against Muchova. The Czech won their only prior meeting -- 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in Prague, four years ago -- when Swiatek was a 17-year-old ranked No.95 in the world.
"I played many practices with her since 2019, and I also watch her actually more than most of the players. Just a coincidence, but it happened," Swiatek said.
"I really like her game, honestly. I really respect her, and she's I feel like a player who can do anything. She has great touch. She can also speed up the game. She plays with that kind of freedom in her movements. And she has a great technique. So I watched her matches and I feel like I know her game pretty well.
"But obviously on matches, it's a little bit different and I'll be ready no matter what."
9 - Among players with 5+ clay courts finals in the Open Era, only Chris Evert (67.2%), Steffi Graf (58.9%) and Evonne Goolagong (57.1%) have a higher finals ratio on this surface than Iga Swiatek (56.3%, 9/16). Accumulator.
3 - Iga Swiatek is the fourth youngest female player in the Open Era to reach her third final at Roland-Garros, older only than Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert. Preciousness.
Iga Swiatek 2020 French Open: Reaches final without losing a set, dropping 23 games in six matches. Time on court: 7 hours Iga Swiatek 2023 French Open: Reaches final without losing a set, dropping 23 games in six matches. Time on court: 7 hours, 41 minutes.
What a fantastic day of women's tennis this was. I am still digesting the first semi between Muchova/Sabalenka as epic as it gets!.
A contender for match of the year that will be hard to beat.
With Iga my blood pressure sky rocketed about 10 times in that 2nd set breaker!.
Haddad Maia almost managed to make it another epic 3 setter.
Iga held firm mentally.
It was a real battle of experience over nerves, and experience won (Hadded Maia had chances for set points and did have 1 set point towards the end as well as being a break up in both sets).
Who knows what would have happened had Hadded Maia won that 2nd set, but I'm glad we didn't have to find out!. The close tiebreaker was nerve-wrecking enough.
So that's a 3rd final at Roland Garros for Iga in 4 years. Consistent excellence.
I may have to petition to start calling this Slam Poland Garros :D
Facing Muchova will be a totally different type of challenge for Iga than Sabalenka. For one thing they haven't played in 5 years.
Could definitely come down to Iga's experience in finals once more (vs first Slam final for Muchova).
But Karolina is a giant killer and is something like 5-0 vs top 3 so I never underestimate her and I expect this final to be tough.
I've always loved watching Muchova play she's a breath of fresh air on the WTA.
If it weren't for her career being constantly derailed by injuries, she would undoubtedly be in the top 10 and challenging for Grand Slams regularly.
One thing is for sure, if the final is anything like the semis we saw today, we'll all be in for a real treat!.
Jazda Iga, see you Saturday!.
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