For the third time in four years, Iga Świątek is headed to the French Open final. She played two extremely different sets against Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No. 14 seed, but won both of them 6-2, 7-6(7).
Haddad Maia, past the the second round at a major for the first time ever, matched up against Świątek exceptionally well. She'd won nine of her last 12 contests against top ten opponents coming into Thursday's semifinal really made Świątek work in the second set.
That was not case in the first set, where Świątek's strengths were on display against Haddad Maia. The world No. 1 was able to dictate the pace, blasting shots that hugged the lines and angles and preventing Haddad Maia from coming in close to the net. Świątek won the first set in just 44 minutes. Then in the second set, Haddad Maia seemed to reset. She went up 1-2 to take her first lead of the match while Świątek appeared to get rattled, letting her shots go long and hitting the ball into the net on consecutive points. The momentum was shifting, and it was a big moment in the match. Haddad Maia had made a comeback in her last four matches and was deadly when playing from behind. But down 3-1, Świątek turned on her defense and won the next three games to retake the lead.
Despite Świątek's one-set lead, the match felt more even than it had before. Tied at 4-4, Haddad Maia had become formidable while Świątek had started buckling a bit. The unforced errors started to pile up, and every time she took a lead she'd inevitably give it back. She had chances to end the match when she was up 5-4 and 6-5, but couldn't close it out.
The tiebreak was a horns-locked battle between two powerhouses, one fighting to extend the match, one fighting to end it. With the shots and the saves they were making, no one would have said no to watching another set of full throttle, no-holds-barred tennis. No one but Świątek, that is. She said no and finally wrapped up the match after spending one hour and 25 minutes fighting Haddad Maia to win the second set.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
French Open picks: Iga Swiatek vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia prediction, oddsIga Swiatek is on another rampage at Roland Garros.
Read more »
Two French Open semifinals go wild, but Iga Swiatek keeps things familiarTop-seeded Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova survive a wild Thursday, earning trips to the final at Roland Garros after three-set thrillers.
Read more »
Swiatek sets up Muchova showdown for French Open crownDefending champion Iga Swiatek was pushed hard by Beatriz Haddad Maia at the French Open on Thursday, but the top seed soaked up the pressure to overcome the Brazilian 6-2 7-6(7) and reach a third final in four years at Roland Garros.
Read more »
Unseeded Karolína Muchová upsets No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to book spot in French Open finalKarolína Muchová grabbed a 7-6, 7-6 victory over Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday to earn her first Grand Slam final appearance.
Read more »
French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic onto 34th career Grand Slam final as cramps plague Carlos AlcarazThe youth movement will have to wait.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic Advances to French Open FinalNovak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz and will now play in his seventh final in the space of eight Grand Slam tournaments, with the chance to claim his 23rd major title
Read more »