The reign is over. It’s a reality that will hit Iga Swiatek as brutally as a thumping forehand return from Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated the French Open champion 7-6 4-6 6-0 to reach her first Roland Garros final. This is a result that is as emphatic as the final-set scoreline represented: Swiatek’s fortress of Court Philippe-Chatrier was stormed; the dream of a record fourth title in a row left in the dust.
Swiatek’s run of 26 consecutive victories at the French Open, the joint-longest streak at a women’s grand slam this century, came crashing down at the hands of the World No 1. In a tense, rollercoaster semi-final that was dominated on the returns, Sabalenka found a higher level to routinely demolish Swiatek’s vulnerable serve in a gripping battle between the two players who have contested for the No 1 ranking over the last three years.
Sabalenka took some blows herself, with an astonishing 11 breaks of serve between both players in the first 15 games of the match, and had to withstand a response from Swiatek in the second set, but the 27-year-old Belarusian underlined her status as the best in the world with the way she went back to picking her opponent’s game apart in the 24-minute final set. She will look to add her first grand slam title outside of the hard court tournaments when she faces either Coco Gauff or Lois Boisson on Saturday.
"Iga is the toughest opponent, especially at Roland Garros, I'm proud I managed to get this win,” Sabalenka said. "It feels incredible but the job is not done yet. I'm thrilled with my performance.”
The opening games had all the tension and stress of a psychological thriller, with both players turning to vent at their player box as they struggled on serve. It soon become the rhythm of the match. Sabalenka looked to have made a statement start as she broke Swiatek’s serve in three consecutive games, thumping return winners. Swiatek, though, was able to reverse the mini-crisis she was facing by doing exactly the same thing, going big on the returns behind her forehand to lead 5-4.
After four breaks of serve each, Sabalenka steadied on her serve to win a dominant tiebreak, wrong-footing Swiatek with her approaches from the baseline. Swiatek lost her composure, appearing to stamp on her racket as Sabalenka put a winner behind her, and was punished for a moment of hesitancy at the net when Sabalenka thundered an ace to lead 5-1. Two points later, Sabalenka had wrapped up a 75-minute set.
The second set began with three more breaks of serve, although this time Swiatek could enforce scoreboard pressure. When the four-time champion produced a soft pick-up at the net and landed an excellent drop shot from the baseline to hold and lead 3-1. It was the decisive moment in the set. From there, Swiatek increased her first-serve percentage, gave Sabalenka fewer opportunities to take aim and forced the third with a love-hold and her best serving game of the match.
Sabalenka responded with an important hold having faced 30-30 in the opening game of the third. In the next game, Swiatek put a backhand into the net from close range and Sabalenka broke by aiming her heavy forehand behind Swiatek. Sabalenka roared as she consolidated the break with a winner, then found another huge forward return to secure the double-break. With Swiatek nearing the end, Sabalenka made sure there was no way back and added a signature finish to the destruction with another return winner on match point.