Iga Swiatek, world number 1, won the final of the Roland-Garros tournament on Saturday, at just 21 years old.
The Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek offered herself on Saturday, four days after celebrating her 21st birthday, a second title at Roland-Garros by sweeping the American Cori Gauff (23rd), 6-1, 6-3 in the final. in 1h08. Swiatek concluded with an overly long return from Gauff, as thunder began to rumble in the distance. Throughout the match, she caused lightning to fall on the court, overtaking an opponent who may have been overwhelmed by the event, her very first major final.
The Pole, who now has two Grand Slam titles to her name after Roland-Garros 2020, has also had a 35th victory in a row and won the 9th title of her career on the circuit, the 6th in a row this year after Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome. She also becomes the first multi-titled player at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams who won her 3rd title there in 2015 and the youngest multi-titled Grand Slam player since Maria Sharapova, who won her 2nd Major at the US Open 2006 aged 19.
Sunday doubles final
For his part, Gauff, who had not lost a single set of the tournament so far, will reach his best ranking on Monday, 13th in the world. She will have another chance to lift a trophy at Roland-Garros on Sunday in the final of the ladies’ doubles which she plays with her compatriot Jessica Pegula against the French Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. Probably very nervous, Gauff completely missed her start to the game: after three unforced errors and a double fault, she gave in her service game, then again in a long third game and found herself trailing 4- 0.
The American won her first game after 23 minutes for 4-1. But Swiatek had time to settle in, set up his game and build his confidence. So much so that she concluded the first set by taking her opponent’s face-off for the third time in 32 minutes. Against all expectations, it was Gauff who started the second set the best by succeeding in the break to lead 2-0. But Swiatek won the next five games and then served for the match at 5-3. Imperial on his service, Swiatek conceded – and lost – only one break point, at the start of the second set.
Coco Gauff has committed too many unforced errors (23), which is more at key moments, to threaten her opponent.