PARIS, France (AFP) — Iga Swiatek battled past Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to win her third French Open title on Saturday and become the first woman to successfully defend the Roland Garros title since 2007.
The 22-year-old Swiatek is just the third woman in the Open era to win each of her first four Grand Slam finals, the Pole adding to her 2020 and 2022 titles in Paris and last year’s US Open triumph.
‘It’s pretty surreal, everything.’
Muchova, the fourth lowest ranked women’s finalist ever in Paris, fought back from a set and 3-0 down, and twice led Swiatek by a break in the decider before her fate was sealed with a double fault on match point.
“It’s pretty surreal, everything,” said Swiatek, the world number one from Poland.
“But the match was really intense, a lot of ups and downs. Stressful moments and coming back. So I’m pretty happy that at the end I could be solid in those few last games and finish it.”
“Karolina really played well. It was a big challenge.”
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.
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.
Muchova, at 43 in the world, was appearing in her first Grand Slam final, after doctors warned her last year she may never play the sport again.
“This was so close and yet so far, that’s what happens when you play one of the best,” said a tearful Muchova.
“The feeling is a little bitter, but to call myself a Grand Slam finalist is amazing.”
The unseeded Czech came into the final having won all five matches in her career against players in the top three — four of them at Grand Slams — after stunning Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
On guard against an underdog with a habit of taking those down at the top, Swiatek quickly applied pressure on the 26-year-old Muchova, playing her biggest match of an injury-hit career.
A miscued forehand from Muchova gave the Pole two break points in the second game which she took with minimal fuss.
The top seed consolidated with a quick hold before Muchova got on the board in game four, drawing loud roars from the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.
Muchova carved out a break opportunity to get back on serve but Swiatek snuffed it out in a protracted fifth game — pumping her fist in relief as she surged 4-1 up.
Swiatek saw another break point come and go the following game, but her disappointment was brief as she easily won the next two games to wrap up the opening set.
