Iga Swiatek advances to French Open final after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia
- Rob Fleming
- 8 June 2023
In the upcoming French Open final, Iga Swiatek, the reigning champion and top-ranked player in the world, will go head-to-head against unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova.
Reigning champion and world number one, Iga Swiatek, to face unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova in French Open final, after defeating Brazilian 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 7-6 (7).
In earlier semi-final, Muchova fought back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to claim a 7-6 (5) 6-7 (5) 7-5 victory in a tremendous contest lasting three hours and 13 minutes.
Poland's Swiatek, in pursuit of her third Roland Garros crown in four years, aims to become the first woman since Justine Henin won it three times from 2005-07 to successfully defend the title.
At the young age of 22, Swiatek has reached her third French Open final, a feat only accomplished by Monica Seles at the start of the 1990s.
"It's really amazing. It's just tough to play such a long tournament, to be able to play consistently. Every year I have good results here and I'm pretty excited for Saturday," said Swiatek, reflecting on her achievement.
"It wasn't easy, she's a fighter. I'm happy that I played so well in the tie-breaker. I'm just glad that I was solid and I managed to finish these last shots," Swiatek added, describing her hard-fought victory over Haddad Maia.
Haddad Maia, the first Brazilian woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since seven-time major winner Maria Bueno in 1968, initially broke Swiatek's serve to love in the opening game. However, the top seed quickly took control of the match.
Swiatek won five of the following six games, breaking Haddad Maia for a third time to claim the set.
Although Haddad Maia gained a 3-1 advantage in the second set, Swiatek rallied and won the next three games.
At four-all, Swiatek faced three break points, but skilfully saved each one. Then she fought off a set point in the tie-break, putting an end to the remarkable run of the left-hander, who had never advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam prior to this year's French Open.
