By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, June 4, 2022
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek outclassed Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 scoring her 35th straight win to capture her second Roland Garros crown in the last three years.
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Avid reader Iga Swiatek immerses herself in novels to relax on the road.
The world No. 1 wrote a powerful plotline to realize her second Roland Garros championship today.
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A sharp Swiatek outclassed 18-year-old Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 to lift La Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for the second time in the last three years—and stretch her winning streak to 35 matches.
Swiatek’s 35th consecutive win equals Venus Williams record for the longest WTA winning streak of the century and she shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
"Amazing, honestly. It's so much different than after, you know, 2020 Roland Garros, because right now I feel like I'm more ready to what's coming," Swiatek told the media in Paris. "I feel more prepared and more, you know, solid, because it was all pretty hectic two years ago. Right now I'm even ready to celebrate a little bit more."
When Gauff’s final return sailed long to end a 68-minute final played on the Pole’s terms, Swiatek broke into a wide grin and thrust her arms toward the sky. Swiatek collected her sixth consecutive tournament title—she hasn’t lost a match since February 16th to 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko—raising her 2022 record to an impressive 42-3, including an immaculate 16-0 mark on clay.
Consider Swiatek's remarkable evolution. Two years ago, she was ranked No. 54 when she beat Sofia Kenin to capture the 2020 Roland Garros without surrendering a set.
Two years later, Swiatek showed all-court acumen, power and poise meeting the moment while wearing a major bulls-eye on her back as the overwhelming favorite. Ultimately, Swiatek stood up to all challenges, conquering all challengers.
Showing her instinct for the kill shot, Swiatek improved to 9-0 in her last nine finals becoming the youngest multiple major winner since a 19-year-old Maria Sharapova snared her second Grand Slam title at the 2006 US Open.
“I think honestly, it may seem pretty weird, but having that 35th win and kind of doing something more than Serena did, it's something special," Swiatek said. "Because I always wanted to be, I don't know, to have some kind of a record. In tennis it's pretty hard after Serena's career.
"So basically that really hit me, you know. Obviously winning a Grand Slam too, but this one was pretty special because I felt like I've done something that nobody ever done, and maybe it's gonna be even more. Yeah, this one was special."
The 21-year-old Swiatek has never lost a Tour-level match to an opponent younger than her and today she schooled recently high school graduate Gauff beating the Grand Slam final debutant from all areas of the court. Swiatek broke Gauff’s forehand down on critical exchanges from the start leaving a disconsolate Gauff burying her head in her towel to stop the tears flowing from her eyes.
Gauff, who briefly shed tears thanking her support team during the trophy ceremony, should hold her head high for her performance in Paris that’s seen her reach both singles and doubles finals alongside compatriot Jessica Pegula.
“I want to congratulate Iga—what you’ve done on Tour has truly been amazing and you totally deserved it,” Gauff said. “Hopefully we can play each other in more finals and maybe I can get a win over you one of these days.”
Afterward, an emotional Gauff told NBC's Maria Taylor her tears flowed because she wanted to win for her family, team and supporters who believed in her even when she doubted herself.
"I I know I’ll get this opportunity again and I know I can come ou on top next time," Gauff said. "Today, I really tried my best to win.
"Obviously, I would change the result. The decisions I made I thought were the right decisions in the moment and I can't really change that. Thank you [to my family]. That’s what makes it hurt so much. I know so many people that love me and I really wanted do that for them."
The Swiatek jolting topspin forehand is one of the most electric weapons in the game and she was plugged in on that stroke from the start generating heavy spin and sharp angles.
Straddling the baseline, Swiatek scalded forehands on the rise earning a cluster of break points in the third game. Gauff spun a backhand pass down the line to fend off a fourth break point. On the fifth break point, Swiatek broke down the American’s forehand forcing an error for the double break lead.
Typically, Gauff handles pace well, but she has a more elaborate backswing on her forehand than Swiatek and it posed timing issues today. Facing the most formidable forehand in the sport, Gauff was spraying errors as Swiatek sped out to a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes.
"I think she does everything pretty well on the court. I think probably the best thing I think she does is changing direction really well," Gauff said of Swiatek. "Shots that are -- you know, I think from playing other players, you're not used to seeing so many winners down the line off of certain shots, so you're not prepared to even run in that direction.
"I think she does a good job with that and taking the ball early. I think you have no time. And on clay, it's something difficult to do. Even the heavy balls that I tried to throw in there, she was taking them early and hitting winners off of them. I think that she does a good job on that."
The crowd, which included Hall of Famer Billie Jean King and 2008 Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic, tried to rouse the teenager with rhythmic clapping while chanting her name. Gauff answered the call navigating her first hold to get on the board after 24 minutes of play.
Whipping wide serves to set up ferocious first-strike forehands, Swiatek slammed a crosscourt forehand then dropped a heavy forehand strike down the line that dropped down on the baseline like a rock rolling off the edge of a cliff. That forehand flurry stretched Swiatek’s lead to 5-1.
A razor-sharp Swiatek drilled a dagger backhand for double set point. Gauff saved the first with a forehand down the line. On the second, Swiatek angled a backhand return wide and Gauff missed a running backhand reply.
The world No. 1 rolled to a one-set lead after 32 minutes.
The good news for Swiatek: she took the court with an 18-0 Roland Garros record when winning the first set.
The bad news for Gauff, who hadn’t surrendered a set in six prior wins: She’d have to play from behind for the first time while searching for a solution for forehand exchanges. Swiatek battered Gauff into nine unforced errors in the seven-game opening set.
Gauff, who celebrated her high school graduation clad in cap and gown in front of the Eiffel Tower, left the court briefly at the end of the opening set. She returned recharged, breaking at 15 to start the second set. Gauff clubbed a high forehand into the corner sealing her second hold of the day to confirm the break for 2-0.
The No. 18 seed gave back the break in the fourth game with a double fault and a forehand error.
Racing across the red clay, Swiatek was striking off the front foot creating chaos for the maiden major finalist off both wings. Facing a Top 30-ranked opponent for the first time in this French fortnight, Gauff encountered an offensive onslaught at times as Swiatek scored her fifth break for a 4-2 lead.
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Playing with a blue and yellow ribbon affixed to her white baseball cap in a show of support for Ukraine, Swiatek played with poise and purpose in this final. Apart from dropping serve to start the second set, Swiatek spent the hour on Court Philippe Chatrier the same way she’s spent much of the last three-and-a-half months on Tour: In Charge.