Iga Swiatek continues to dominate at Roland Garros, securing her third consecutive French Open women’s title with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
Polish star Swiatek, the world number one, displayed her prowess on the clay court, overcoming an early break to win 11 of the next 12 games. Her swift victory in just 68 minutes marked her fourth title at the French Open and her fifth Grand Slam overall, including the 2022 US Open.
“I love this place, I wait every year to play here,” Swiatek shared, celebrating her win with visible joy as she kneeled and danced on the court.
Joining the Legends
By securing her third straight title at Roland Garros, Swiatek enters an elite group of players in the Open era to achieve this feat, alongside Monica Seles and Justine Henin. At 23, she is also the youngest player in the professional era to win four French Open titles.
Runner-up Paolini acknowledged the challenge of facing Swiatek, saying, “To play you here is the toughest challenge in this sport. It’s been an intense 15 days, and today was tough, but I’m really proud of myself.”
Swiatek’s Unstoppable Run
Swiatek’s journey through the tournament was marked by dominance. She arrived in Paris having won WTA titles in the Madrid Open and Italian Open in Rome, setting the stage for another strong performance.
Despite a close call in the second round against former world number one Naomi Osaka, where Swiatek saved a match point, she went on to cruise through the competition. Notable highlights include a swift victory over Anastasia Potapova and a near-flawless performance against Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Swiatek faced a tough match against US Open champion Coco Gauff but once again proved her superiority, extending her head-to-head advantage.
Statistical Superiority
Swiatek’s statistics at the French Open are remarkable:
- She has won 21 consecutive matches at Roland Garros, the fourth-longest streak in the Open era.
- Her overall record at the French Open stands at 35-2.
- She has not lost a match in Paris since 2021.
- After her close call with Osaka, Swiatek won 64 of the next 81 games en route to the title.
- Only Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin have more French Open titles than Swiatek.
In this final, Swiatek dropped the fewest games since Henin’s win over Ana Ivanovic in 2007.
Paolini’s Admirable Run
Jasmine Paolini’s path to the final was a testament to her season’s growth, as she reached the top 10 for the first time. Despite being the underdog, Paolini started the final with confidence, breaking Swiatek’s serve early. However, Swiatek quickly regained control, breaking back and dominating the remainder of the match.
Paolini’s resilience was evident even as Swiatek’s powerful shots and consistent play took over. A brief resurgence in the second set was met with cheers from the crowd, but the match soon concluded in Swiatek’s favor.
Swiatek’s victory underscores her status as a formidable force on clay and solidifies her place among the legends of the French Open.
