Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 2, 2022 Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates his semi-final victory over Daria Kasatkina REUTERS / Gonzalo Fuentes of Russia
PARIS – Iga Swiatek continued her journey towards her second French Open title in three years as she beat Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-1 to reach the final and extend her winning streak. number 34 on Thursday.
The world number one conceded an early goal, but made the most of Kasatkina’s string of unwarranted mistakes, usurping Philippe Chatrier’s place with the winner.
Poland’s Swiatek, the 2020 champion, hasn’t lost since February and has matched Serena William’s win since 2013, she has now lost just two sets in her last four tournaments.
She will meet American teenager Coco Gauff, seeded 18, or Italy’s Martina Trevisan in Saturday’s game.
Iga. Rafa.
Two great champions#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Fm9Ot3jraX
– Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2022
Swiatek again competed with a Ukrainian flag ribbon pinned to his hat against the Russian opponent.
Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to compete at Roland Garros but will have to sit out Wimbledon as all British Club officials banned the two countries’ rivals from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow called a “special military operation”.
Belarus was a major staging area for the invasion.
“Quite a special moment. Yeah, I’m really emotional. I’m so grateful to be in this place and you know, stay healthy and be able to play my game. It’s been great and I love playing here,” said Swift.
“Soon after my first year there was COVID and I couldn’t tell how many Poles would come. It was overwhelming.
“I try to treat every game the same way. When I realize this is one of the biggest games of the season, it can be stressful for me.”
Swiatek started with a double foul but was held to a draw and broke serve in the second game, only for Kasatkina to pull back and level the score at 2-2.
However, the Russian game had many unwarranted errors and Swiatek collected free points to steal back the opponent’s serve with a score of 4-2.
She then racked up eight points in a row to end the opening set with a diagonal backhand return that left Kasatkina stuck on the red ground.
Swiatek, looking to become just the fourth woman since 2000 – after Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova – to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Trophy twice, kept up the momentum to take an early lead in the second set.
But Kasatkina, who has lost all three encounters in consecutive sets this season, brought the match to a halt at 1-1.
It was only a brief relief for the world number 20, who was being battered by Swiatek’s precise and powerful forehand.
The top seed won all remaining games, leaving Kasatkina with only nine points in the second set, and finished it with an ace.
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