PARIS: Poland’s Iga Swiatek continued her dominance on Parisian clay with a third French Open crown in the last four years, defeating unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a thrilling final to capture her fourth Grand Slam title on Saturday.

Swiatek has now lost only two out of 26 Grand Slam matches since moving to world number one in April last year and the 22-year-old became the youngest woman to bag consecutive trophies at Roland Garros since Monica Seles, who triumphed from 1990-92.

Justine Henin was the last woman to win successive Roland Garros cro­wns when she captured her third in a row and fourth in total 16 years ago.

“I know I have said this every year, it isn’t really about the performance, I really love being here — it’s my favourite place on tour,” said Swiatek.

Swiatek’s latest coronation caps another dominant two weeks on the clay in Paris, where her record stands at 28 wins and two losses in five visits.

The US Open champion also joi­n­ed Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only women in the Open Era to eme­rge victorious in each of their first four major finals but she was made to work hard despite a fast start.

Swiatek worked the angles superbly from the baseline and bla­z­ed ahead 3-0 on a warm and windy afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier before world number 43 Muchova settled the nerves, got on the board and threatened to break back.

Muchova had chances in the fifth game of the first set but the 26-year-old struggled to finish them off and found herself in more trouble in the next before bailing herself out with a tight hold thanks to a delightful drop shot and backhand winner.

The Czech, who prevailed the only time the pair faced off in Prague in 2019, launched herself into Swiatek’s second serve but sprayed far too many errors and allowed her opponent to go up a set in 44 minutes with another break.

Swiatek continued to benefit from Muchova’s mistakes from the baseline and at the net to build a commanding 3-0 lead in the second set but the Czech fired a rocket of a forehand to break back and then level at 3-3.

Muchova began to grow in confidence and attacked with more accuracy to heap pressure on Swiatek, who hit a double fault to gift Muchova the chance to even things up in the next game but there was yet another twist in the tale.

After breaking back to make it 5-5, Swiatek surrendered her serve again but saved two set points before Muchova pulled off a magical volley at full stretch to set up another and finally forced a decider.

Muchova was brimming with self-belief, having edged Aryna Sabalenka in a three-setter in the semi-finals, and went ahead in the final set, but Swiatek shrugged off the early break and wrestled back the momentum by winning three straight games.

The Polish top seed dropped serve in the seventh game but broke back instantly and produced a tight hold to inch closer to the title, which she wrapped up when Muchova double faulted to spark emotional scenes on centre court.

Muchova was the fourth lowest ranked woman to reach the French Open final, her first championship match at a major.

“This was so close and yet so far, that’s what happens when you play one of the best, Iga,” said a tearful Muchova, who was told only last year by doctors she may never play tennis again.

RUUD ROLLS ON

In Friday’s late action, men’s fourth seed Casper Ruud stormed into the final for a second year running by swatting aside German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in a battle of big-hitters.

Ruud, who was swept aside by Rafa Nadal in straight sets as the Spaniard won his 14th crown on the Parisian clay last year, had endured an up-and-down 2023 season until his return to Roland Garros where he has hit peak form again and will face world number three Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s title clash.

But the Norwegian, who is chasing a maiden major, is well aware of the daunting task ahead of him. Ruud has never won a set against Djokovic in four meetings, although this will be their first match-up at a major.

“It’s going to be tough this year against Novak. Two of the toughest in history and I’ll be the underdog again,” Ruud, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final, said. “I know Novak is trying to be the greatest. I’m going to try my best. He’s going for Grand Slam number 23 and I’m going for my first, so there’s a big difference.”

The 24-year-old broke Zverev six times as the Olympic champion’s French Open run ended in the semi-finals for the third time in a row.

“I just went out there and tried to play without thinking too much, trying to play without pressure, and just played really well today,” said Ruud, whose 87 wins on clay are the most since 2020.

For Zverev, it was another bitter finish on the same court where he suffered season-ending ankle ligament damage in his semi-final against Nadal 12 months ago.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2023