Swiatek joins Osaka, second active player with four Majors
Swiatek [1] bt. Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, retains her French Open title
- “It was so close yet so far, that’s what happens when you play one of the best,” Muchova reflects during post-match interview on an amazing three weeks after making her maiden Major final on 17th main draw appearance
- Swiatek becomes fourth player in Open Era (after Monica Seles, Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka) to win their first four Major finals, becomes the first since since Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2016 to defend a Grand Slam title and dropped just one set all tournament – in the finale no less
- “Congrats to Karolina, members of my team are witnesses that even since we first played, I knew we’d play tough matches – I was really struck with your variety on court, hope we play more finals,” as Swiatek calls Roland Garros her favourite place on tour after third Slam trophy in Paris
The first game of Saturday’s final rather set the tone for what was in store.
Karolina Muchova adopted similar levels of variation and sublime execution which got her to this stage against a defending champion in Iga Swiatek who wouldn’t relinquish many cheap points as Aryna Sabalenka did two days prior.
That showed on the scoreline before long, as the Pole got off to an ideal 3-0 start. After a 10-minute hold saw Swiatek save a break point to go 4-1 up, you could see how hard the Czech was making her work.
Muchova timed her aggressive moments well for the most part, hit some topspin groundstrokes and advancing towards the net also paid dividends – though the tactic wasn’t immediately apparent.
She was leaking unforced errors and Swiatek profited as a consequence, clinching set one in 44 minutes.
Muchova’s mistakes continued to rise early in set two, a direct byproduct of the high-risk playstyle she adopted against a ball-striker who seemed firmly in her groove.
It doesn’t take much for the rhythm to disappear though, which we saw midway through the second frame. Beforehand though, Muchova was another early break down with less than an hour played.
2-0 soon became 3-1 on the scoreboard, though the 26-year-old’s persistence would eventually pay off as the crowd cheered her on.
Deep returns during their rallies kept Swiatek under the kosh and a forehand up-the-line winner gave Muchova the break back as she sought to restore parity.
That she did and soon she earned another break point at 4-4, applying more of the same stern pressure as Swiatek’s level started to dip with the finish line in sight.
Her first serve percentage waned and so did her fluidity, double-faulting to give Muchova the serve it out opportunity. The match became ragged at this stage as both hit a series of uncharacteristic errors, frantically trying too hard to win.
Back-and-forth, they went but one had to lose
Muchova needed three set points to get there, but levelled at a set apiece after showcasing more brilliant touch up close and volleying with venom into the decider.
She went on a 10-point run and led 2-0 early on in set three, though Swiatek stopped the bleeding with an important hold herself just as the jeopardy began to mount.
The world no. 1 then hit a pair of backhand passing shots to shift pressure back on a first-time finalist who was starting to feel it again. She saved one break point but faced three in a row and couldn’t deny Swiatek any longer.
Finely poised at 2-2, there was still more momentum swings to go. Muchova responded well to being broken by replicating the same action in the very next game, using the slice well and keeping the Pole guessing with her shot placement.
Swiatek knew she needed to do the same and obliged, before securing a gritty hold at 5-4 – something she’s made a habit of, when the stakes aren’t in her favour.
Muchova was now serving to prolong the set, a different kind of pressure entirely, and that change in dynamic having previously led ultimately hamstrung her.
A double-fault on championship point wasn’t the way this spectacle should’ve ended, but Iga was a worthy winner all the same.
Picture source: Getty Images, screenshot via Eurosport broadcast
Mo and Sports 