French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka ends Iga Swiatek's winning streak, reaches first Roland Garros final
NEW DELHI: In a remarkable semifinal match at the
, Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, halted Iga Swiatek's 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros with a commanding 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 victory on Thursday.
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This victory not only prevented Swiatek from achieving a historic fourth consecutive French Open title in the professional era but also positioned Sabalenka for her fourth major championship, potentially her first on clay courts.
"It feels incredible, but I also understand that the job is not done yet," said Sabalenka, the 27-year-old Belarusian who claimed the top WTA ranking from Swiatek last October. "She's the toughest opponent, especially on the clay, especially at Roland Garros.
I'm proud that I was able to get this win. It was a tough match. … but I managed it, somehow."
Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates as she won the quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Sabalenka's next challenge awaits in Saturday's final against either No. 2 Coco Gauff or French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, ranked 361st. She playfully addressed the crowd: "I'm pretty sure you're going to be cheering for one person like crazy, and I'm not sure if I really want her to win."
The match, played under Court Philippe-Chatrier's closed roof due to rain, showcased exceptional tennis from both players.
However, Sabalenka's decisive third-set performance, marked by zero unforced errors compared to Swiatek's twelve, proved decisive.
For Swiatek, this defeat extends a challenging period since her last French Open victory 12 months ago. The 24-year-old Polish player, now ranked fifth, has struggled to reach finals, faced an unexpected Olympics semifinal exit, and experienced a one-month ban following a contaminated medicine incident.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates as she won the semifinal match of the French Tennis Open against Poland's Iga Swiatek at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Sabalenka's dominance in women's tennis is evident, with her six title match appearances this year setting a benchmark not seen since Serena Williams in 2013.
Her powerful game, traditionally suited to faster courts, proved equally effective on clay, as demonstrated by her commanding performance.
The match dynamics shifted throughout, with Sabalenka initially leading 4-1 before Swiatek fought back to 5-4 in the first set.
After winning the tiebreaker, Swiatek briefly regained momentum in the second set, but Sabalenka ultimately prevailed with an impressive display of power tennis.
The atmosphere was notably pro-Swiatek, with the 15,000-strong crowd frequently chanting "I-ga!" Sabalenka responded to this partial support by actively encouraging crowd engagement after her successful points.
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