Title and record streak so special, says Swiatek
IGA Swiatek cemented her place at the top of women’s tennis by capping a record winning streak with a second French Open title.
The number one seed’s 35th straight win, a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of 18-year-old Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final, saw her overtake Serena Williams’ mark of 34 consecutive victories this century and match that of her sister Venus Williams. Elevated to world number one following Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement in March, the 21-year-old Pole has proved an unstoppable force ever since.
“I think, honestly, it may seem pretty weird, but having that 35th win and kind of doing something more than Serena did, it’s something special,” she said.
“Because I always wanted to have some kind of a record. In tennis it’s pretty hard after Serena’s career.
“So basically that really hit me, you know. Obviously winning a grand slam too, but this one was pretty special because I felt like I’ve done something that nobody has ever done, and maybe it’s gonna be even more. Yeah, this one was special.”
Swiatek was supported in the stands by superstar Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, and she was stunned to see him when she went up to celebrate with her team.
“I didn’t know, and I’m happy about that because I would have got so stressed,” she smiled.
“I’m happy that he’s here. I don’t know if he’s a huge tennis fan or not. But, yeah, I mean, wow! He’s been a top athlete in our country for so many years and it’s hard to believe that he actually came to watch me.
“I hope he liked it. I hope he’s going to come back. Yeah, I don’t know. I’m just overwhelmed.”
Swiatek has been sporting a Ukraine ribbon in her cap throughout the fortnight and urged the wartorn country to “stay strong” in her acceptance speech.
Gauff, admirably, has also been using her platform to highlight issues beyond tennis this fortnight, notably the ongoing problem of American gun violence.
The woman who burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon three years ago has become a hugely impressive figure both on and off the court. So it was hard not to feel sorry for her as she tearfully apologised to her team on court after collecting her runners-up plate.
The American vowed to learn the lessons from a chastening first major final and admitted she now knows the level she needs to reach to challenge Swiatek’s dominance.
“Now that I have seen the level, 35 matches, I know that’s what I have to do,” she said. “Hopefully next time. I’m sure I’m going to play her in another final and hopefully it’s a different result. I feel like this helped my confidence a lot. I just think even when I was 15, 16, 17, I felt like so much pressure to make a final. Now I made it, it feels like a relief.”
■ Rafael Nadal reclaimed his crown as the king of clay with a dominant victory over Casper Ruud in the men’s singles at the French Open.
Roland Garros royalty returned to the throne on Jubilee weekend as Nadal roared to a 14th title courtesy of a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 win over first-time finalist Ruud.
Nadal is 36 and suffers with a chronic foot problem, which has prompted rumours of retirement, but he brushed aside Norwegian eighth seed Ruud to claim a 22nd grand slam victory to take him two ahead of great rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at the top of the all-time male rankings.
As expected, the quarter-final win over outgoing champion Djokovic proved Nadal’s biggest hurdle on his way to the ‘decimocuarto’.
By contrast, it was a walk in the Paris sunshine against Ruud, 17 years to the day since the Spaniard won his first title here.
Such is Nadal’s longevity he is now frequently coming up against players who idolised him as children.
Ruud, 23, is one of those, having been in the crowd when Nadal won his eighth title in 2013.
Nadal said: “For me personally, it is difficult to describe the feelings that I have. It’s something I never believed, that I would be here at 36, being competitive again. It means everything to me.”