PARIS – Iga Sviatek has been undefeated since February and certainly looks undefeated right now, she is now a two-time French Open champion.
Coco Gauff, who appeared in her first Grand Slam final at just 18, has never had a great chance, like most opponents against Swiatek lately.
The highest-ranked Svetek defeated Gauf 6-1, 6-3 in the Roland Garros final on Saturday, adding there to his 2020 trophy and extending his winning streak to 35 games.
Swiatek’s lossless series is equal to that of Venus Williams in 2000 as the longest in this century.
Swiatek has a game that works on all surfaces, but its biggest triumphs so far are on red clay.
On the hottest day of the tournament, the temperature was 28C and while the forecast predicted thunderstorms, in the beginning there were only a few gusts of white in the blue sky over Court Philippe Chartres.
Gauff failed to get off to the best, a little early nerves that would be understandable coming from any player who debuted on this stage.
The player on the other side of the net certainly had a lot to do with the way things went.
Swiatek broke into service from the start, with much help from Gauf, who put a forehand into the net, with a double fault – causing a few sighs of “Awww” from a supporting crowd – threw a forehand into the net and pushed another long forehand.
When Gauff’s forehand betrayed her in the process, she broke again to leave 3-0 after just 15 minutes of action. The result was soon 4-0 in favor of Swiatek.
Not in all cases, of course, but Roland Garros spectators often tend to offer their support to outsiders and the player who lags behind in a match. Both refer to Gauf. So there were plenty of shouts of “Alez, Coco!” There were repeated shouts of her ready-to-sing, two-syllable name. And a fan shouted “Coco, you can do it!”
When Gauf climbed to the board, holding 4-1, the applause and roar were appropriate for catching a set, not just for one game.
While things seemed far away, Gauff slapped her thigh or closed her eyes, shook her head, or looked up at her parents in the stands.
What she never did was hesitate or admit anything.
Gauff started the second set by trying Swiatek for the only time and then holding on to a 2-0 increase. Could this be a much closer race now? Can Gauff get Swiatek to the third set?
No. Swiatek quickly recalibrated and re-established itself, giving way to 2-all as Gauff’s propensity for error returned.
Swiatek not only wins, but wins easily, having already amassed 16 sets, taken 6-0 in 2022 – and that’s only the beginning of June.
The only Polish player to win a Grand Slam single trophy, Swiatek does so with a mix of heavy forehand loaded with topspin – just like someone he admires, 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who will be faced Casper Ruud in the men’s last Sunday – and a game on the whole court, filled with variety and assessment of the tuning of moves ahead of time during the point. Much like a chess player like her.
Swiatek has other attributes, such as strong footwork that allows it to play defensively when needed.
Also key to Swiatek’s presence and fast-paced aura is its serenity on the court. She has been touring with a sports psychologist who was at Swiatek’s guest lodge on Saturday, working on various elements of her professional and personal life.
This includes an emphasis on keeping the focus and setting priorities, such as the determination that she is still too new in this whole business with attempts to win Grand Slam titles, which she decided it was best not to attend the finals. at the Champions League in Paris last weekend, something Nadal did.
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