Reigning champion Swiatek sets up French Open semi clash with Sabalenka
PARIS: Triple-defending champion Iga Swiatek set up a salivating French Open semi-final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka after marching past Elina Svitolina in the last eight on Tuesday.
Swiatek bested 13th seed Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 in just over 90 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier to continue her bid to equal a 102-year record by winning four successive French Open titles.
The Polish fifth seed will face Sabalenka in the semi-finals after the Belarusian earlier eliminated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in straight sets.
"Aryna is always a challenge, she has a game for every surface. I need to focus on myself, do the work and just go for it," said Swiatek.
The former world number one has struggled for consistency since winning the clay-court treble of Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros in 2024, but can fall back on positive memories of playing and beating Sabalenka on the red dirt.
"I don't know if she (Sabalenka) elevates my game. Against every player, we play different way, so it's hard to compare. But for sure our rivalry is pushing both of us," said Swiatek.
The rivals have never met at Roland Garros, but Swiatek emerged the victor in their last two meetings on clay – in the finals of the Madrid and Italian Opens last season.
"It's going to be a tough match but I'm happy for the challenge," the 24-year-old added.
After starting sluggishly in her fourth-round win over former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, where Swiatek found herself 6-1, 2-0 down before kicking into gear, she hit the ground running on Tuesday.
Swiatek broke Svitolina's serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, before outlasting her opponent in two lengthy, tightly-contested games to consolidate her advantage.
The five-time Grand Slam winner then served out the opener to 15 on a gusty centre court in Paris.
The pair exchanged consecutive breaks of serve early in the second set, but neither could seize the advantage until Swiatek forced the breakthrough at 5-5 with a powerful forehand down the line.
Swiatek showed her killer instinct by holding again to 15 and sealing the win with back-to-back aces.
"I knew it's going to be a tough match, and it was. You know, even though first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn't like that in any other games... I had to fight for every point," said Swiatek.
"I'm happy that I also stepped up when she broke me in the second set and that I kept my intensity until the end."
Defeat for Svitolina means the 30-year-old Ukrainian has never progressed further than the quarter-finals at the French Open despite having reached the last-eight stage five times in her career. — AFP
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