By Tony Fairbairn
- Iga Swiatek [1] def Coco Gauff [18] 6-1 6-3
- Swiatek cruises to a second grand slam title as well as winning her 35th consecutive match and sixth consecutive title this season.
PARIS, FRANCE – Iga Swiatek has admitted that every piece of the puzzle is complete after winning her second Roland Garros title with a comprehensive victory over Coco Gauff in the final.
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Iga Swiatek [1] def Coco Gauff [18] 6-1 6-3
Iga Swiatek is the Roland Garros champion after the world number one won her second title in Paris and second grand slam overall with a dominant victory over Coco Gauff. Gauff was competing in her first grand slam final and that inexperience showed as the American got off to a nervy start. Swiatek took full advantage of that, creating angles with her fearless shot-making.
The Pole produced a bold strategy early on as she targeted Gauff’s strength on the backhand side and although it didn’t have maximum success, the shot did enough to psychologically get into the American’s head. All areas of Swiatek’s game was much better than Gauff’s as she progressed to a double break and 4-0 lead.
However the 18 year-old ensured that she would get a much-needed confidence booster in the opening set as she claimed the fifth game with some confident hitting. Gauff caused Swiatek problems throughout the opening set but that didn’t translate into results as the Pole dug deep and resisted the American’s pressure to take the opening set 6-1 in 38 minutes.
Gauff’s pressure eventually told as her powerful groundstrokes and fast court coverage forced a passive and nervy Swiatek into errors as the American broke and took a 2-0 lead. However the American couldn’t capitalise on her momentum and Swiatek showed why she has had a phenomenal last few months as she continued to break down Gauff’s game. The world number one sealed five games in a row to close in on victory and a historic second Roland Garros title.
There was one last piece of resistance from Gauff to hold for 5-3 but it was Swiatek’s day as she closed out the win and won a 35th consecutive victory, tying Venus Williams’ win streak. More importantly Swiatek won her second grand slam title and a sixth consecutive title this season as she doubles the gap between her and the rest of the field in both a tactical and statistical sense.
‘Every piece has finally come together’
After her win Swiatek spoke about her happiness to win the title and how every piece of the puzzle has come together at the right time, “’I’m pretty happy every piece has finally come together… Two years ago winning this title was something amazing,” the world number one told the Roland Garros website and the WTA website.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t expect it ever but this time I feel like I worked hard, did everything to get here. Even though it was pretty tough, the pressure was big… Really I have extra motivation every time I’m coming here, so I love to be back.
“You have a feeling that the tournament is coming to an end and this is the last match, so it would be nice to just finish it properly. But I guess I’m kind of accepting that a little bit more and I try to lean on the strengths and the things that I have.”
Swiatek’s achievement means she is the fourth youngest player in open era history to win multiple Roland Garros history.
As for Gauff there was disappointment after not being able to make her mark in her maiden grand slam final.
However there was strong feelings of pride after the match as she looks to make this a regular occasion, “I wasn’t as nervous really entering the match,” Gauff revealed to the Roland Garros website.
“Obviously, when I lost the first couple of games the nerves started to come, but when I lost the first set I really came out in the second and had a new mindset. But I think for the most part I think that Iga was just too good today. It’s one of those matches that, yes, I, in some moments, could have played better. But she really didn’t give me anything. Every time I thought I hit a good ball, it wasn’t.
“There is a reason why she’s on a winning streak. I’m just glad that I really tried my best today. I know I’ve been saying a lot, ‘Oh, it’s just a tennis match, it doesn’t matter’. Really, that’s what I believe. It doesn’t matter. I mean, with the emotions now I’m feeling it a lot, but tomorrow I’m going to wake up and be really proud of myself.”
Swiatek and Gauff will now turn their attention to the grass court season as they build up to Wimbledon which starts on the 27 June.
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