With her 34th success in a row, the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek stormed into the final at the French Open in Paris. The 21-year-old won 6-2, 6-1 against Darja Kassatkina from Russia on Thursday and will now face American Coco Gauff in the final on Saturday. The 18-year-old beat Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-1 in her semifinals, making her the youngest French Open finalist since Belgian Kim Clijsters 21 years ago.
Swiatek, who celebrated her only Grand Slam title so far in 2020 at the Stade Roland Garros, ended Serena Williams’ super series from 2000 with her success against Kassatkina. She only needed 64 minutes for her success in the one-sided game on the Philippe Chatrier court. “It’s a very special moment for me. I’m very emotional right now,” Swiatek said after the game.
The Pole only had a few problems with Kassatkina at the beginning. After an early break to make it 2-0, she had to give up her service herself. Kassatkina equalized to make it 2-2, but then Swiatek raised their level to another level and played six games in a row.
After 38 minutes she got the first set. In the second section, too, the number one in the tennis world dominated at will and used the first match ball with an ace.
In the second semi-final, Gauff and Trevisan fought a balanced duel in the first set. Both players struggled to serve through. Towards the end of the first round, Gauff, who won the junior women’s competition at the Stade Roland Garros in 2018, got stronger and won the first set.
After that Trevisan had to be treated for a few minutes. The Italian had won the tournament in Rabat in the run-up to the French Open and has therefore played a lot lately. That was noticeable now, Trevisan started the second set with a thick thigh bandage. Although the Italian tried everything again here, Gauff was too strong on this sunny day in Paris and used her first match ball after 1:28 hours.
“I’m a bit shocked right now. I have no words that can describe it,” said Gauff after her victory. She wants to go into the final on Saturday with the same composure as in all the games in the Bois de Boulogne so far. “So many things are happening in the world right now, especially in the US. This is just a tennis match,” Gauff said.
