Iga’s message to Ukraine after Grand triumph
WORLD NO.1 Iga Swiatek claimed her second French Open title with a crushing win over Coco Gauff – then used her victory speech to tell Ukraine to “stay strong”.
Watched by Polish football star Robert Lewandowski, she beat the American teenager 6-1 6-3 to record her 35th consecutive win and cement her status as the best female player in the world.
Swiatek, 21, won her sixth straight title and has yet to lose since taking over at the top of the rankings from the retired Ash Barty.
The 2020 French Open champion has won her last nine finals without dropping a set.
And she will be the favourite at Wimbledon where Russians and Belarusians will be banned.
Gauff spoke out against gun violence in the USA after her semi-final win and Swiatek wore the Ukrainian flag pinned to her cap all tournament.
And in an emotional presentation ceremony – where both players fought back tears – the Pole said: “I would like to say something on Ukraine. Stay strong, the war is still there.”
She later explained: “I felt like I want people to be more aware of what’s going on. I think if it’s really important for us, we should maybe use our voice, because we are public figures.”
This anti-climactic final was all over in 68 minutes with world No.23 Gauff (below) broken five times.
Swiatek has now overtaken the 34-match winning streak of Serena Williams and equalled Venus Williams’ best female winning run this century.
Gauff, 18, can still claim her first Grand Slam title today – she plays in the women’s doubles final with fellow American Jessica Pegula against French duo Caroline Garcia and Kiki Mladenovic. Meanwhile, Andy Murray’s hopes of winning a first tournament on British soil since 2016 ended in defeat in the Surbiton Trophy semi-final.
Murray had not won at home since triumphing at the ATP Finals six years ago and the wait will go on after losing 5-7 7-6 (5) 6-3 to American Denis Kudla yesterday.