French Open: Iga Swiatek sets up blockbuster semi-final clash vs Aryna Sabalenka

India Today

2 days ago

Defending champion Iga Swiatek extended her Roland Garros dominance on Tuesday with a commanding 6-1, 7-5 win over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina to reach her fourth consecutive semi-final in Paris. In doing so, the Polish fifth seed stretched her remarkable winning streak at the French Open to 26 matches - matching Serena Williams' record for the longest unbeaten run in a single women's Grand Slam event this century.advertisementSwiatek, already a three-time champion at Roland Garros, needed just 1 hour and 41 minutes to notch her fourth win in five career meetings against Svitolina, who was bidding to reach her fourth Grand Slam semifinal. The World No. 1 throne has bounced only between two names since April 2022 - and now, Paris will host the latest chapter in their evolving rivalry.On Thursday, Swiatek will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a high-stakes semifinal between the WTA's two most dominant forces of the past two years. Combined, they've ruled the No. 1 spot for 166 weeks - with Swiatek clocking 125 of those at the summit, and Sabalenka enjoying her 41st week atop the rankings.
French Open Day 10 Live UpdatesWhile Swiatek holds a commanding 8-4 edge in their head-to-head record, and leads 5-1 on clay, the Belarusian did score a decisive 6-3, 6-3 win in their most recent encounter on the hard courts of Cincinnati last year. Thursday's meeting will mark their first clash at Roland Garros - a fitting battleground for two players who have helped define this era in women's tennis.advertisementSwiatek's win also marked another milestone: her 100th WTA-level win on clay, achieved in just 114 matches. In the Open Era, only legends like Monica Seles, Margaret Court, and Chris Evert reached that milestone in fewer attempts.But despite the statistics and the records, the 23-year-old remains grounded - and dangerous. She entered Paris with her lowest seeding at the event since her breakout in 2020 and survived a massive scare against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round. But against Svitolina, she showcased her signature mix of controlled aggression, relentless movement, and strategic precision."I had to raise my level, especially in the second set," Swiatek said after the match. "Elina is such a fighter. I'm happy I found my rhythm when it mattered most."Trending Reel