Top seed Iga Swiatek claimed her second Roland-Garros title in three years with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory over American teenager Coco Gauff, extending her mind-blowing winning streak to 35 matches.
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Titles galore and the streak keeps going for @iga_swiatek — check out the Moments of the Day by @emirates 🎥#RolandGarros | #EmiratesFlyBetterMoments pic.twitter.com/tAUsXa8QzG
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
The world No.1 seems unstoppable as she surpasses Serena Williams’ career-best unbeaten run.
Iga Swiatek is the first woman to win six events in a row since Justine Henin in 2007/8 and her 35th straight win puts her level with Venus Williams – and one ahead of Serena Williams – in terms of the most consecutive wins this century on the WTA tour.
For most tennis players, winning their first Grand Slam title is a moment they will never forget and often never surpass.
For Iga Swiatek, winning a second Roland-Garros title in three years, when the eyes of the world were on her, meant even more than her first.
While her first triumph, in 2020, came almost out of the blue, this time she was the bookmakers favourite, the one everyone knew they had to beat, which brings its own pressure.
Champion mentality 🏆@iga_swiatek x @RafaelNadal#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/KABvw57cSH
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
“It feels amazing really, very different from 2020,” said Swiatek. “I feel more prepared, more solid. I can celebrate a little bit more,”she added.
New friend request ✅@lewy_official x @iga_swiatek ⚽️🎾#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/lOzoov302p
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
“I think in 2020 the main thing that I felt was confusion, because I have never really believed 100 per cent that I can actually win a Grand Slam,”Iga Swiatek said.
Working hard to get to the 🔝#RolandGarros | @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/XR3kNdaTmI
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
“This time it was pure work and pure… I don’t know. Just with everything that was going on, I’m also more aware of how it is to win a Grand Slam and what it takes and how every puzzle has to come together and basically every aspect of the game has to work.
With that awareness, I was even more happy and even more proud of myself, because in 2020 it was all, I just felt that I’m lucky. This time I felt like I really did the work,”she added.
Ready to take it all in 😁#RolandGarros | @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/aMhE4RmCJr
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
“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 be, I don’t know, 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 ever done, and maybe it’s going to be even more. Yeah, this one was special,”Iga Swiatek said.
Swiatek admitted that she had felt more pressure than ever before, to fulfil everyone’s expectations and show she was worthy of being No.1.
“It is like basically the hardest part of the job, I would say, because you can see on Grand Slams that there are a lot of surprises.It’s not easy to cope with all that different atmosphere and the pressure, because everybody is preparing for the Grand Slam always,”Iga Swiatek said.
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