Swiatek is the first female and male Grand Slam winner from Poland. In addition, she is the youngest winner since Monica Seles in 1992. The 19-year-old did not lose a set during the tournament and only played 28 games in total. The last time this feat was achieved by Belgian Justine Henin in 2007. Kenin, however, has to wait for her second major title after the one at the Australian Open.
“I don’t even know what’s going on here. I am incredibly happy. It’s crazy, I’m overwhelmed Two years ago I won the junior tournament here (in doubles, note). It seems to me that it wasn’t that long ago, ”says Swiatek, who impressed in the final with her strong nerves and strong forehand. Swiatek beat a total of 25 winners. In comparison, Kenin only managed ten.
The round of 16, which she had also reached at the Australian Open this year, had previously been her best performance in the four major tournaments. “I was mentally constant and wanted to play aggressively like in the previous rounds, which I did very well,” said the teenager from Warsaw. “Maybe it had to be that another outsider wins a Grand Slam tournament, that was often the case recently,” said Swiatek.
Swiatek impressively carefree
The Pole, who had the number one seeded Simona Halep 6: 1 6: 2 in the round of 16, started her first final surprisingly carefree and pulled away with a break against the favored Kenin to 3: 0. The American made the balance. Swiatek took the serve from Kenin again, but could not use a set ball at 5: 3 and then gave up her service. With her third break, the Pole took the lead after 53 minutes.
Highlights of the first movement
As in the whole tournament, Iga Swiatek shines in the first set with an aggressive and fearless style of play.
Medical time off doesn’t help Kenin
Kenin, who was the first player since the German Angelique Kerber in 2016 to have won two major tournaments in one year, seemed to put up with the loss of the set. The 21-year-old made a quick break, which should be her last game in this final. Swiatek didn’t let that bother him and turned the score to 2: 1.
After that, Kenin took a medical break and went to the cabin to treat her thigh. In the meantime, Swiatek kept warm with serve exercises. After the American returned to the field, things went quickly. The Pole managed two breaks, turned her first match ball after a playing time of 1:24 hours and left the field with 1.6 million euros richer than the winner.
Swiatek wins first Grand Slam title
Iga Swiatek wins her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in Paris with a sovereign final victory over the American Sofia Kenin.
“She played great,” said Kenin, who will move up from sixth to fourth in the WTA rankings, and presented herself as a fair loser. Congratulations immediately came from Swiatek’s homeland, including from Poland’s President Andrzej Duda. “Big thanks and congratulations to Iga Swiatek! A historic day for Poland, Polish sport and Polish tennis. Bravo! ”Wrote Duda on Twitter.
