The world No.1, the Polish Iga Swiatek, offered Saturday, four days after celebrating her 21st birthday, a second title at Roland-Garros by sweeping in the final the American Cori Gauff (23rd), 6-1, 6-3.
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The one-sided duel lasted only 1 hour and 8 minutes.
Swiatek concluded with an overly long return from Gauff, as thunder began to rumble in the distance. The whole match, she brought lightning down on the court, overtaking an opponent who may have been overwhelmed by the event in her very first major final.
The Pole, who now has two Grand Slam titles to her name, after Roland-Garros in 2020, has also chained a 35th victory in a row and won the 9th title of her career on the circuit, the 6th in a row this year after Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome.
She also becomes the first multi-titled player at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams, who won her 3rd title there in 2015, and the youngest multi-titled Grand Slam player since Maria Sharapova, who won her 2nd Major at the United States international in 2006 at age 19.
“In 2020, once the match point was won, I felt confused because I never really believed 100% that I could win a Grand Slam tournament. This time, it’s the result of a lot of hard work. I know best what it’s like to win a Grand Slam tournament, what it takes to get there, how every piece of the puzzle has to fit into place and how everything in my game has to work , commented Swiatek.
“In addition, seeing the Polish flags and knowing that there are people who are there for me, who are shouting my name, is a great emotion. It’s hard to describe, but it really gives a lot, a lot of energy.”
Another final on Sunday
For his part, Gauff, who had not lost a single set of the tournament so far, will reach his best ranking on Monday, 13th in the world.
She will have another chance to lift a trophy at Roland-Garros on Sunday in the final of the ladies’ doubles that she plays with her compatriot Jessica Pegula against the French Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic.
Probably very nervous, Gauff completely missed her start to the game: after three unforced errors and a double fault, she gave in her service game, then again in a long third game and found herself trailing 4- 0.
The American won her first game after 23 minutes for 4-1.
But Swiatek had time to settle in, set up his game and build his confidence. So much so that she concluded the first set by taking her opponent’s face-off for the third time in 32 minutes.
Against all odds, it was Gauff who started the second set the best by breaking to lead 2-0. But Swiatek won the next five games and then served for the match at 5-3.
Imperial on his service, Swiatek conceded – and lost – only one break point, at the start of the second set.
Coco Gauff has committed too many unforced errors (23), which is more at key moments, to threaten her opponent.