- Iga Swiatek has booked a date with fate at the 2023 French Open
- She will be defending her title which she won in 2022
- Swiatek defeated Maia 6-2, 7-6 (7) in the Roland Garros semi-final
Iga Swiatek has booked a date with fate at the 2023 French Open after sailing to the finals following a resounding victory over Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in the semi-final.
Swiatek defeated Maia 6-2, 7-6 (7) in the Roland Garros semi-final which went down on Thursday.
Maia made a solid impression right away by bringing a superb gave, but the Polish tennis star quickly and forcefully answered to win the opening set.
The Brazilian moved 3-1 ahead and pushed for another break when Swiatek, who had never lost more than four games in a set, fought back in the second set.
Maia moved 3-1 ahead and pushed for another break making the second set a fierce game. She led by 5-3 and had a set point at 6-5 in the tie-break, but she netted a tight forehand.
Iga Swiatek. Photo/Outlook India
On Swiatek’s first match chance, the 14th seed delivered an incredible forehand down the line to save her. However, she failed to replicate this in the second one as she powered away a forehand to win.
Although she lost, Maia is happy that she played diligently against a modern-day tennis champion.
Swiatek described this match as a great one adding that the Brazilian proved to be a formidable competitor who played amazingly well.
“It’s very incredible. I’m glad that I can play consistently since I always do well here, so I’m looking forward to Saturday,” she said post-match.
Speaking of Maia’s game, the Pole described her as a formidable competitor who was all out to sail through to the French Open finals.
“It wasn’t easy, she’s a fighter. I’m happy that I played so well in the tie-breaker. I’m just glad that I was solid and I managed to finish these last shots,” Swiatek added.
Switek’s perfect play at Roland Garros is building her reputation as the upcoming ‘Queen of Clay Court’. She won the French Open title in 2020 and 2022 making her a defending champion in 2023.
She is now eyeing a third grand slam in Paris which will make her a four-time Grand Slam champion. The 22-year-old also won the 2022 US Open which she is optimistic that she will defend successfully.
Swiatek will take on unseeded Karolina Muchova who defeated world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (5) 6-7 (5) 7-5 in the opening semi-final.
Iga Swiatek. Photo/Sportskeeda
Muchova dashed Sabalenka’s hope to advance to the tournament’s finals and try her luck in winning a second grand slam.
The Belarusian tennis star won the 2023 Australian Open. Muchova, now a French Open finalist said she took advantage of the errors Sabalanka was making during their face-off.
Her dream to advance to the finals materialised and she is hopeful of beating Swiatek who is a formidable competitor.
“To be now in a grand slam final, it’s for sure my dream. I’m super, super glad that I’m here and that I’m going to play a final on Saturday,” she said.
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