Swiatek put tennis and heart to extend his reign at Roland Garros

the polish Iga Swiatekworld number 1, successfully defended his crown in Roland Garrosthe third that he achieves, by beating the Czech Karolina Muchova (43rd) 6-2, 5-7 and 6-4, this Saturday in a very high-level final that delighted Philippe Chatrier.

Swiatek also won Roland Garros in 2020 and becomes the first player to repeat the title since Justine Henin did it 16 years ago. The Belgian won in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Accustomed to very comfortable victories in her previous matches, except for the semifinal against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (14th), which gave her a little more work, Swiatek had to work hard to win in two hours and 46 minutes.

The 22-year-old Polish, great dominator of the circuit, has four Grand Slam tournaments in four finals. To her collection at Roland Garros is added the US Open 2022.

Muchova, 26, leaves Paris as the great revelation of the tournament. She did not win, but her exuberant style, aggressive with her forehand and brilliant with her volley, made Chatrier fall in love and revealed to the general public the secret that the women’s circuit already knew: her ranking does not reflect the reality of a career plagued by injuries, her tennis is typical of a Top 10.

Swiatek began the duel by pressing the accelerator, a furious start that at Roland Garros helped him advance in previous rounds. In ten minutes of play he dominated 3-0 against a Muchova, who had not gone past the third round before at Roland Garros, who had a hard time getting into the game.

Little by little she began to remember the player who in the semifinals came back against Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) in the best duel of the tournament. But the first green shoots of her brilliant tennis were of no use to catch up with the Polish, who secured the first set without difficulty.

The warning was there and in the second set, despite an initial break, Muchova took over. She recovered the break and began to annoy the normally imperturbable Pole, an example of self-control on the tennis planet.

The climax of the duel came when Muchova closed the chapter, with his third set point, winning a point in which he moved Swiatek with three impeccable volleys. La Chatrier stood up to applaud two players who know each other perfectly because they are regular training partners.

Swiatek lost control for a few minutes. He started the final set with a double fault that delivered a break to Muchova, impeccable on serve to consolidate his advantage.

But number 1 had not said the last word. She put her game in order again and was right with a break: 2-2 and the game entered unknown territory.

Swiatek made his experience count. Muchova, many minutes on the court during the tournament, he gave in to the last push of the Pole. Both got a big round of applause.