Iga Świątek entered the 2023 French Open as the No. 1 ranked female player in the world and did not disappoint. Świątek showed resilience on Saturday by defeating Karolína Muchová in the French Open final.
It’s familiar territory for 22-year-old Świątek, who won the French Open in 2020 and 2022. Following Saturday’s win, she has now won the event in three of the past four years. This is his fourth Grand Slam title overall.
All of Świątek’s skills were on display at the start of the French Open final. Świątek’s secret weapon is his preparation. When a match starts, she is always there mentally and physically. No nerves to beat, no getting into it, she’s just instantly in competition mode. And going into Saturday’s game, she was at her best. She dictated the pace, dominating not only with power but with a calm patience that was almost unnerving.
It was mostly smooth sailing for Świątek in the first set. Although she struggled early in the game at net, losing her first four net points, she wasn’t really under threat. Muchová took two plays from Świątek in the first set, but couldn’t keep up once Świątek found his rhythm.
The second set didn’t go so well for Świątek. After taking an early lead, it looked like Świątek would run away with the win. But Muchová rallied with her back to the wall, winning three games and tying the set 3-3. Świątek seemed to get back on track in the next game, not allowing Muchová to register a single point. Muchová was unfazed by this and took the next game to tie at 4-4.
After winning the next match, Muchová was in line to take the first set against Świątek throughout the event. Heading into the final, Świątek had not dropped a single set at Roland Garros 2023. Beatriz Haddad Maia took Świątek the farthest, forcing a tiebreaker in the second set, but Świątek emerged victorious.
Muchová ended this streak. She won Świątek’s first set at the 2023 French Open thanks to athletic and fantastic strokes.
It was the first set Świątek dropped in a Grand Slam final. After winning the first set against Muchová on Saturday, Świątek was 7-0 in the Grand Slam final sets.
Muchová’s momentum continued in the third set. She took the first two games away from Świątek, who looked visibly upset and frustrated. Muchová, who had upset so many top women on her run to the final, looked set to claim another impressive upset.
Świątek refused to come out like this. She rediscovered her rhythm in the third set, taking three straight games from Muchová to take the lead. Muchová, as she had done all game, fought back to tie the game 3-3.
With the set tied at 4-4, Świątek put herself in position to win the match. Unforced errors from Muchová gave Świątek a 5-4 lead. She was one game away from winning the match.
Świątek delivered in the final game, rallying to take a lead over Muchová. With Świątek one point away from victory, Muchová double faulted, giving Świątek the victory.
She broke down in tears on the pitch after the victory.
Iga Świątek continues to build an impressive legacy
Świątek’s run to the French Open should launch her into the conversation as one of the best athletes in the world. It erupted so suddenly and rose so quickly that it almost feels like it’s still new. But she’s been here for years, dominating not only on clay but also on hard courts. This French Open is her fourth major title and she has just turned 22. She’s the real deal no matter where she is or who she’s up against.
And there’s no doubt now that she’s the reigning queen of clay. It took over a decade for Serena Williams to win three French Open titles. Świątek did it in just four years. The last time the women’s singles at Roland Garros was so dominated by one person was from 2005 to 2007, when Justine Henin won three in a row.
Although Muchova didn’t win, qualifying for the Roland Garros final is a kind of redemption that most players wouldn’t even dare to dream of. Just a year after leaving the French Open in tears after rolling her ankle after sustaining injuries that sidelined her for part of the last two years, Muchova knocked out No.8 players and #2 in the world. her way to a final against the No. 1 player in the world.
This story will be updated.