Iga Swiatek came into this year’s French Open with a title and her No.1 ranking to defend. On Saturday she left Paris with both intact.
What looked like a routine victory early for Swiatek was anything but a seamless ride to her latest title. Against unseeded Karolina Muchova, Swiatek won nine of the first 11 games before her unseeded opponent staged a remarkable comeback to push the match into a third set.
"Oh, my God, do you want to start that roller coaster?" Swiatek told reporters when asked to explain her emotions during the match.
It was a wild, rousing encounter that featured a dozen breaks of serve and, as it closed in on three hours, it was impossible to know who would win.
But in the end, after Muchova double-faulted on match point, Swiatek would hold on for the 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win late Saturday evening in Paris.
And so, Swiatek defended her title at Roland Garros, winning her third in four years and fourth major overall.
Even in victory, Swiatek was characteristically modest as she turned to address her player’s box.
“Sorry for being such a pain in the …” she said during the trophy presentation. “I’ll try to do better. I’m really happy that we can feel satisfied now and celebrate.
“I love being here. Basically, it’s my favorite place on tour.”
She turned 22 years old only 10 days ago, but her name is already associated with some of the game’s greats.
Swiatek joins Monica Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only women in the Open Era to win each of their first four Grand Slam finals and the youngest since Seles to win consecutive titles at the French Open. She’s also the youngest to win a fourth Grand Slam title since Serena Williams took the 2002 US Open.
Swiatek’s three Roland Garros crowns equal the lifetime achievements of Margaret Court, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Seles and Williams; only players named Evert, Graf and Henin have more. Only Court (95.5 percent) has a higher winning percentage at Roland Garros than Swiatek’s 93.3 percent -- in a single Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Swiatek will continue as the Hologic WTA Tour’s No.1 player. She’s now 28-2 at Roland Garros and 26-2 in Grand Slam matches since becoming No.1.
"Last year for sure it was a confirmation for me that the first time wasn't a coincidence or something like that," Swiatek said. "This one, for sure, it was a little bit tougher in terms of injuries and the pressure, and also coming back to this tournament as a defending champion, I right now feel like it's a little bit different.
"I needed to really handle that."
Coming in, much was made of Muchova’s 5-0 record against Top 3 players. Her comeback against No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals showcased her fearlessness. But when she stepped on Court Philippe Chatrier to face No.1 Swiatek, it was the first appearance in a Grand Slam singles final for the Czech Republic player.
Ranked No.46, Muchova lost four straight points on her first service game with some loose play, and Swiatek raced out to a 3-0 lead. But with Swiatek serving at 3-1, Muchova settled in. She started hitting deep groundstrokes, which allowed her to come to net and finish points. In a game that ran more than nine minutes and with four deuces, Swiatek won Muchova’s only break-point opportunity with a big, lashing backhand.
Swiatek, up 4-1, forged another break point but Muchova escaped with some of the versatility she’s known for, opening up the court and stroking a pair of backhand winners. Serving at 2-5, Muchova lost all four points and the set.
With Swiatek up 3-0 again, the second set began to resemble the first. But this time, when Muchova crafted a second break opportunity, she converted it with a forehand winner down the line to get back on serve at 2-3.
Ultimately, up 6-5 and after a spectacular scrambling point -- the best of the match -- Muchova converted her third set point when Swiatek’s backhand service return was long.
The momentum continued, as Muchova broke Swiatek’s serve for the third straight time. But then, three games later, it was back on serve at 2-all. The decisive break came in the seventh game. A Swiatek double fault made it love-30, an exquisite drop shot 15-40 and then Muchova moved Swiatek all over the court and emerged with a 4-3 lead.
"In the third set I didn't want to have any regrets about the second," Swiatek said. "I just kind of looked forward, and I said to myself, 'Okay, you know what? I'm just going to give it all.' No thinking, no analyzing. Just play my game, use my intuition, and that really helped."
Swiatek broke back to level the match. And then survived another break point to go ahead 5-4. Ultimately, Muchova’s double fault, only her third of the match, was the difference.
"Since Stuttgart I haven't been home," Swiatek said. "So I'm happy that I finished the whole clay court swing so well, and that I kind of survived.
"I guess I'm never going to kind of doubt my strength again maybe because of that."
This final went from a routine Iga Swiatek straight set domination to an instant classic thanks to Karolina Muchova's net skills.
There was honestly a moment where I really thought Iga was going to lose after being a set and break up (which would have hurt).
But instead she stayed steady and calm and just used her experience and skills she has to take the momentum and the match back.
It had everything, breaks, swings of momentum, fantastic rallies, and ultimately a champion's grit and experience won in the end. It doesn't get better than that.
As much as I've enjoyed Iga's straight forward finals this 3 set win (a first ever for Iga in a major) made the victory feel even more special.
Iga really had to show an incredible strong mental fortitude in order to win, and she did it from twice being a break down.
It was another facet of the champion and fighter she has become over the last 3 years, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next!.
I'm still in disbelief about how it all ended and I'm just so happy for Iga she's had a tough year thus far (when you compare it to 2022) with some injuries and tough losses.
This will undoubtedly give her confidence for the rest of the season. Perhaps even enough to do well on the grass.
I do hope she plays a warm up tournament this year. It is extremely hard to win Wimbledon with no preparation even if you have a kinder draw.
If Iga keeps going like this in Paris they really will have to rename the tournament Poland Garros. :D
What a crazy 2 weeks it's been.
Thank you for the ride Iga and for once again allowing me to feel enormous national pride.
Hope you get plenty of rest and lot's of Tiramisu.
See you on the green stuff Champ. :)
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