Iga Swiatek is back in the French Open final, but it wasn’t easy in her semifinal against Beatriz Haddad Maia on Thursday evening. Swiatek battled back from a break down in each of the two sets and saved a set point in the second before prevailing 6-2, 7-6(7) after two hours and nine minutes.
“She was using the fact that she’s a lefty, she has a nice game for clay, plays top spin and plays aggressive,” the top-ranked Pole said of Haddad Maia. “She’s a fighter and showed that in every match she played here. I’m glad I was solid and I finished my last shots.”
Swiatek will now look to finish the job and capture her third Roland Garros title in her third final appearance.
Standing in the 22-year-old’s way is unseeded Karolina Muchova, who upset Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5 in the first semifinal on Thursday. The 26-year-old Czech trailed 5-2 in the decider, saved one match point, and finally advanced after three hours and 13 minutes.
Interestingly, Muchova is 5-0 lifetime against top-three opponents. She will try to extend that record to 6-0 at the expense of the world No. 1.
“I don’t think I will be the favorite,” Muchova answered when a reporter joked that she should be the favorite against Swiatek given her perfect record against the top three. “Yeah, it’s nice. I didn’t really even know about this statistic, if I say (it) like that.
“It just shows me that I can play against [the top players]. I can compete, and obviously the matches are super close. Even today, match [point] down, you really never know if I (will) win or lose, but it’s great to know that I have the chance to win and I win against the top players. That for sure boosts my confidence.”
who ya got?
Don’t ask silly questions. I already have you the answer at the beginning of the Italian Open.
The fact that Swiatek was pushed will be a blessing.
62 62
Iga in 2
Iga in 3. ‘Mooky’ stretches her. (Upset not impossible.)
Fab match so far, so glad Karolina got the second, she so deserved it, what a fighter.
Can’t believe I am the only one watching this terrific final.So wonderful to see a competiive final after so many dismal beat downs.
I’m watching Margot!
I love Karolina..! She is like Barbora…!
Hooray 🙂 I love her too, so much variety added to power. She’s fab.
Like Iga too though. Expect Elizabeth is behind the sofa!
Hi Margot and Alison!!😀😀
What a high quality match!
Me too 😃
Shame somebody has to lose 🙁
Muchova now has to hold her nerve…eeeeeek
It is a shame somebody had to lose in that Final
Iga wins! Congrats Elizabeth! Karolina maybe should have broken the game before when she had 0-30 and a break point.
After she didn’t take the break point you felt she was going to be broken at 4-5.
Thanks, Amy!
What a pants way to end one of the best women’s finals I’ve seen forever.
Congrats Iga, well played Karo, soon be back in the top 10, where you belong.
Amy: good news about Johnson and co., rats deserting a sinking ship?
Let’s hope the ship is the Titanic Margot. Mind you Johnson would have made sure he bought up half the lifeboats…
🙂
Hello ladies hope your all well 😊
Hope you are too Alison!😀
Where are Elizabeth and mira??!!
Ohh…hey gals!…Congrats RC for yor sweet Iga’s win!..i didn’t watch it!..but can imag8ne how great that was(like M said!)
Ohh…congrats to M too for picking Iga!..AWESOME!!..a shame amy can’t join us in a Bracket isn’t it gals?If not,i’m sure she will give us one hell of a competitive energy every week!..hahaha!!..
Hi mira! Have to confess this is the worst time, going into the final, for missing Rafa.
Rafa against Novak in the final playing for #23 would probably have been one of the greatest matches ever..
Ohh..me too amy!..God!..this feeling is awful!..i hope this terrible feeling will go away soon!😔
Anyway gudluck to 2 finalists today!..and i think we all know who’s gonna win!😀..
Yes today really is awful mira! It’s just about been bearable up till now but to see the final without Rafa on a court Rafa practically owns…!!😪😪
Just horrible..
If only we could see into the future and know Rafa will be there next year…
Well done to Iga. Big-time pressure!
Mira is likely sleeping or just waking up.
Good Evening to Margot and Amy! And Alison, happy to see you!
I recorded the match because I promised the day to my friend 😀
He has trouble with how much time I spend on tennis. It’s okay, though. In every other way, he’s excellent.
I felt awful for Karolina Moo. She played a better match the entire second set, and it was close in the 3rd. I hope Karolina can recover in time to compete at Wimbledon. Her tennis is beautiful everywhere.
Congrats to Iga on her 3rd title at Roland Garros! 4th GS title, counting USOpen.
I have been a nervous wreck this past year, feeling all the pressure on Iga.
This crazy fan is going to calm down. I can’t take it anymore! It’s best not to put all my focus on one player.
The brackets are open for picking!
2 ATP
2 WTA
I went with Iga and won the WTA bracket, and Margot gets congrats for picking the correct winner Iga Swiatek!
I forget how many points we get for picking the winner. But Cami is the only one who picked Novak…we shall see who wins ATP tomorrow.
That was a fabulous final, lots of fabulous shot making, shame for the loser though😢
Looks like Muchova delivered much over in the final. Well done to her and Swiatek on her 2nd RG.
Does that mean we should expect much more from Muchova in the future?
Hi Elizabeth lol, like my late father used to say in sports, it’s a lot more enjoyable when you don’t care who wins, a lot less stressful when your not emotionally invested in one particular person or team 😊
Couldn’t agree more with u Al!..btw..Hi Al!..how r u!…long time no chat huh?
Am happy for Iga. But it was pretty gut wrenching to see Karolina so upset. She could have won! This is in the context of all her awful injuries.
Hope she has a great wimby…
Hi Mira I’m okay just been so busy lately, and tiring too, work and hubby’s stroke, hope your well too, about Rafa I think when he’s gone, I’ll still enjoy tennis, but I don’t think I’ll invest myself emotionally with anyone else, it’s been amazing, but at times very stressful, made my mind up I’m not going to put myself through that again lol 😁