Latest news with #Swiatek
Deccan Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
Ready to rattle women's order
The newly-crowned French Open champion, Coco Gauff, who has enhanced her game, is poised to break the duopoly of Swiatek and Sabalenka, writes Sidney Kiran
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Aryna Sabalenka halts Iga Swiatek's run to reach French final
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek's run of dominance at the French Open, denying the latter's bid for a fourth straight title at Roland Garros on Thursday. A three-time Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka snapped the fifth-seeded Poland native's 26-match French Open winning streak with a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 decision in Paris. The 27-year-old from Belarus dispatched Swiatek in 2 hours and 19 minutes to become the first woman to reach the singles final in three consecutive Grand Slam events since Serena Williams (2016). Sabalenka will look to win her first French Open title Saturday. She will meet No. 2 seed Coco Gauff, who brought 361st-ranked French wild-card Lois Boisson's fairytale run to an end with a swift 6-1, 6-2 triumph in Thursday's other semifinal. 'Honestly, it feels incredible, but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere,' Sabalenka said. 'She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match, it was a tricky match, but I managed.' Sabalenka took advantage of 12 unforced errors by Swiatek in the decisive third set. 'It could not be more perfect than that,' Sabalenka said. 'I'm super proud right now. I'm glad I found my serve.' Swiatek won her first French Open in 2020 before claiming the trophies in 2022, 2023 and 2024. She also won a bronze medal at Roland Garros in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her French Open record is 40-3. Sabalenka and Gauff have split their 10 previous meetings. It will be the first time a World No. 1 and No. 2 have met in a Grand Slam final since the 2018 Australian Open, where Caroline Wozniacki defeated Simona Halep. Gauff, 21, who lost to Swiatek in the 2022 final, returned to the championship round in convincing fashion. She saved four of five break points and took advantage of Boisson's 33 unforced errors (compared to eight winners) to advance in just 72 minutes. 'Obviously there's still a lot of work to do, but for now I'll enjoy this one and then prepare for the final tomorrow,' said Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion who is looking for her second major title. Boisson, 22, was trying to become the first Frenchwoman to win the French Open since Mary Pierce in 2000. Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Independent Singapore
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Aryna Sabalenka ended Queen of Clay Iga Swiatek's dominance at the French Open, says 'the job is not done yet'
PARIS, FRANCE: Aryna Sabalenka has brought an end to Iga Swiatek's dominance on the clay surface as she won the French Open semi-finals. Sabalenka, currently World No. 1, managed to achieve what no one had been able to do in four years as she overcame Swiatek's strong defensive skills with her powerful and determined game. Having their first Grand Slam match since the 2022 US Open, Sabalenka also stopped Swiatek's 26-match winning streak at the tournament, finishing the intense battle with a final scoreline of 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0. This also marks Sabalenka's first final at Roland-Garros. With this, the athlete expressed: 'Honestly, it feels incredible… I understand the job is not done yet, but I'm thrilled with the performance and this win.' Highlights of the match The match took a turn when Swiatek found her rhythm on the court, winning four games in a row. However, Sabalenka fought back, held her serve, and then gave an impressive forehand on the run to break Swiatek. Sabalenka then took a 6-5 lead. However, as the match progressed, Swiatek's play became much more aggressive and precise, making it tough for Sabalenka to maintain control. Sabalenka regrouped and played a near-perfect tie-break, dropping only one point to win the first set. Both players showcased their skills and strengths. Swiatek started upping her game, coming to the net more often, a rare strategy for her, which yielded great results, b ut in the deciding set, Sabalenka came out as hyped as ever. She gave it her all, and she quickly broke Swiatek's serve to take a 2-0 lead. This shook Swiatek's confidence, and when Sabalenka broke her again, it felt like the match was slipping, already veering away from the defending champion. Swiatek's frustration was evident in her body language as Sabalenka sealed the win, hitting a final backhand winner past Swiatek. With the outcome, Swiatek admitted: 'I love playing here, so for sure I'm happy that I was fortunate enough to play so many great tournaments here… Even this one, you know, I feel like I played better than in the weeks before. I'm just happy that I have this place to come back to every year and just try to push myself.' Now, Sabalenka would battle against Coco Gauff, who ended Lois Boisson's run with a 6-1, 6-2 win. In a social media post, Sabalenka shared: 'My first @rolandgarros final, but the job's not done yet.' Netizens showed their support by commenting on the post. They said, 'You have so many fans that believe in you and are rooting for you. Believe in yourself and fight for every single point, and you will be victorious. I love you so much, Aryna! Congratulations 🥺🫶🏽,' 'Reigning Queen of Tennis 🦁🐯🤩I am rooting for you with every ounce possible—just like every ounce of effort you show us!! We are in this together – we love you so much—you got this, Aryna—your team knows you will figure this out! Go get the win! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇🥇🥇', 'You can do it! 💪🏻 unstoppable girl 🧡🔥👑,' and 'Proud of you, but the job is indeed not done yet. Bring it home, Aryna ❤️.'
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
World's top two clash for French Open crown as Sabalenka faces Gauff
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are set for a thrilling French Open final, marking the first top-two showdown in a Grand Slam since 2018. Sabalenka, fueled by her recent victory over Swiatek, aims for her first Roland Garros title, while Gauff seeks her second major win before turning 22. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads World number one Aryna Sabalenka targets a French Open title that would "mean the world" in a tantalising final against second-ranked Coco Gauff at Roland Garros on will be the first time the world's top two players have met in a women's Grand Slam final since Caroline Wozniacki defeated Simona Halep to win the 2018 Australian and Gauff faced off in the 2023 US Open final, when the Belarusian led by a set before imploding as the then-teenager Gauff claimed her maiden major head-to-head record is locked at 5-5, although Sabalenka came out on top in their last meeting in the Madrid Open final last top seed will be playing in her first Slam final not on hard courts."In the past I don't know how many years, we've been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay," she said after ending Iga Swiatek's bid for a fourth successive Roland Garros triumph in the semi-finals."If I'll be able to get this trophy, it's just going to mean the world for us."I'm ready to go in that final and to fight, fight for every point and give everything I have to give to get the win."Sabalenka snapped Swiatek's 26-match winning run at the French Open with a devastating deciding set that she took 6-0 in just 22 the 27-year-old knows it will not be easy against Gauff, who has always been comfortable on clay and has reached at least the quarter-finals in five successive appearances in the tournament."It was a big match (against Swiatek), and it felt like a final, but I know that the job is not done yet, and I have to go out there on Saturday, and I have to fight and I have to bring my best tennis," added three-time major champion Sabalenka."I have to work for that title, especially if it's going to be Coco."- Gauff hoping to stay 'calm' -Gauff is hoping to become only the third player to win two women's Grand Slam titles before the age of 22 since Maria Sharapova added the 2006 US Open to her famous 2004 Wimbledon others are Swiatek and former world number one Naomi will be the 21-year-old's second Roland Garros final after she was left in tears following a heavy defeat by Swiatek in 2022."Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one," said Gauff."I think going into Saturday I'll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible."Sabalenka will be playing in her seventh WTA final of the year, the most by any player at this stage of a season since Serena Williams -- who beat Sharapova to win the title in Paris -- in says Sabalenka's power has helped her build a commanding lead at the top of the world rankings."I think obviously her ball striking, she can come up with some big shots and big winners pretty much at all areas of the court, so I think her ball striking and also her mentality, she's a fighter as well, she's going to stay in the match regardless of the scoreline."Gauff is in her first Slam final since beating Sabalenka in New York two years ago, having suffered two semi-final losses since, including to Swiatek at Roland Garros 12 months ago."It feels kinda fast, to be honest. US Open doesn't feel like too long ago," she said.
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
French Open final, Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: A rare clash for the Parisian clay title between the world's top two
For a while, before Iga Swiatek came along and marked her territory at Roland Garros, the women's draw at the French Open regularly threw up surprises. Fairy tales out of nowhere. One-time surprise winners. Even Swiatek was one such story when she completed her first triumph as an unseeded player, ranked outside the world's top 50 in 2020. Now, with the Polish star's reign on the Parisian clay over after three straight titles and four in last five years, there will be a new champion on Saturday. But this ain't no surprise story. The title clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff for the 2025 French Open women's singles title at Court Philippe Chatrier is between the world's two best players at the moment, a rare occurrence in itself in Paris. It is the first time since 2013 – when world No.1 Serena Williams defeated No.2 Maria Sharapova – that the top two-ranked players are in the final at this tournament, and it is also only the fifth time in 35 years. Since 1990, the other such instances featured Steffi Graf and Monica Seles (1990, 1992), Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Steffi Graf (1995) and Serena vs Sharapova (2013). It is already an elite club to be a part of. In fact, not just at Roland Garros, it's been a while since this happened at any Major. The last time WTA's No.1 and No.2-ranked players played in a Grand Slam final was when Caroline Wozniacki defeated Simona Halep at the 2018 Australian Open. While this is Sabalenka's first French Open final, she has been the most dominant force in women's tennis in the last year and some. For Gauff, this would be a second chance to win the clay Major after reaching the final in 2022 where she was blown away by Swiatek 1-6, 3-6 – an experience she said she is better off for having in the build up to facing the Belarusian this time around. The past record between Sabalenka and Gauff is tantalisingly poised at 5-5 from 10 matches. At the Madrid final on clay this year, Sabalenka prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (3). Gauff's most memorable win against Sabalenka came in the final of the US Open in 2023, the American's only Major to date. Long considered a hard court specialist, the 27-year-old top seed Sabalenka, the most powerful player on the tour, will try to establish herself as an all-rounder with her first title in Paris. She has already won back-to-back titles at the Australian Open in 2023-24 as well as the U.S. Open crown in 2024 but she had never before reached the final in Paris with the slower clay not naturally suited to her heavy-hitting game. Her three-set semi-final victory on Thursday over Swiatek elevated her to a new level. She did not change her power game or adapt it to clay. Instead she used it effectively to forge past her opponent. Despite the closed roof that made the ball even slower, Sabalenka's serve was still a major weapon as she dished out a third-set bagel against Swiatek, who had been on a 26-match winning streak at the tournament and is nicknamed the 'Queen of cCay'. It is this power that Gauff, a far more natural claycourt player than Sabalenka, will need to overcome. A finalist here in 2022, Gauff is also looking for her first singles crown in Paris. The American does not have anywhere near the punching power from the serve or baseline that her opponent will bring into the encounter but her athleticism, precision and ability to stay in the rallies will be key. One of the best movers on the tour, Gauff has dropped just one set en route to the final. (With Reuters inputs)
