Iga Swiatek showed all her battling qualities as she beat Karolina Muchova to win the French Open for a third time.
Swiatek looked in control at a set and a break up but Muchova fought back to level the match in a thrilling final. The 22-year-old Polish star was pushed all the way by her opponent but had too much quality in the clutch moments to secure a fourth Grand Slam title.
She won a third French Open title as she beat Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The win is the Polish star’s fourth Grand Slam title after wins at Roland-Garros in 2020 and 2022 and at the US Open in 2022.
Muchova was serving well early on, but Swiatek showed her aggressive nature returning the serve and giving absolutely nothing away.
After winning both of her first two service games, it was a commanding start from the world No.1, and the Czech had no chance to attack her serve.
She had only won one point in those first three games, and Muchova was looking for some sort of encouragement in a sobering start.
The variety of Muchova’s shots has been her key strength through this Slam, and an early dropped shot lob before coxing Swiatek into a long return allowed the Czech to draw first blood.
The Czech showed plenty of spirit and skill with a couple of delicious backhand volleys in a pulsating fifth game, but Swiatek ultimately prevailed with a nine-minute hold to move 4-1 ahead – a harsh reflection of the contest, but perfectly summing up the Pole’s ruthlessness.
Despite two more unforced errors, Muchova was really starting to grow into the contest after reducing the arrears with a wonderful backhand shot at the end of another gruelling game lasting seven minutes.
Swiatek held to 30 on her serve to move 5-2 ahead, and had a triple set point when Muchova hit a backhand long. A procession to another straight sets win looked on the cards, as the world No.1 held to love.
Swiatek was starting to toy with Muchova and her ability to force errors from the Czech was truly remarkable, as she moved 1-0 ahead in set two.
It was the erratic nature of Muchova’s game which was proving costly, and Swiatek won another game after the Czech hit a routine smashed shot off the court.
However, she showed signs of recovery with a hold to 30 with brilliant backhand and fine volley and then broke Swiatek for the first time in the match thanks to an excellent forehand pass down the line.
It was game number three on the spin for Muchova with a fantastic service game to 15, and Swiatek suddenly had reasons for concern.
Swiatek won the next game to love, but Muchova held herself to 30 in a second set that was on a knife-edge.
The Pole looked like she may be capitulating after hitting a forehand long and double faulting on break point to move 5-4 ahead, giving her an opportunity to serve for the set.
The pressure was starting to tell on Muchova, as a couple of unforced errors allowed Swiatek to break back at 5-5.
However, the Czech raised her game and had Swiatek dashing around the court in the last two games as she forced through her advantage to level the sets at one-all.
That was the first set that Swiatek had dropped all tournament, and she then dropped the opening game, on her serve to kick off the third.
Muchova was bidding to become the fourth unseeded player to win at Roland-Garros in the last seven years, but after looking to her trainer for setup, Swiatek steadied herself and broke back.
However, Muchova displayed the steel that she had needed to dispatch Aryna Sabalenka in her semi-final triumph, and broke to go 4-3 clear ahead of her serve, only to see Swiatek ruthless in response, seizing upon the 26-year-old’s mistakes to break back.
Swiatek then watched her opponent send down some fierce serves, but she dealt with them all to go 40-15 clear. Serving to stay in the match, Muchova sent down one fault, and then a double. Swiatek sank to her knees in tears before embracing her opponent to give congratulations.
‘My favourite place’ – Swiatek basks in third triumph at Roland-Garros
Speaking on court after her win, Swiatek praised her opponent and appeared relieved to have overcome stiff resistance.
“Thank you guys,” she began. “First of all, congrats to Karolina, members of my team are witnesses that ever since we first played, I knew we would play tough matches, tough finals because I was really struck with your variety on court and I really hope we’re going to have many more finals.
“I wouldn’t be here without my team, sorry for being such a pain in the… I’ll try to do better, I know I won this tournament but it wasn’t easy being on tour for a couple of weeks without any breaks, it’s tough so I’m really happy we can feel satisfied right now and just celebrate, so thank you guys.
“Thank you to my family as well, so many people came from Poland, I really feel the love so thank you.
“I know I’ve been saying that every year but it’s not about he performance, I really love being here and it’s my favourite place on tour so thank you everybody, tournament sponsors, people behind the scenes, you make this tournament so great for us that it’s always a pleasure to come back and give 100% so thank you guys.
“I also want to thank my sponsors and you guys for coming and giving us the energy, it was so loud, incredible really and I hope next year the atmosphere will be even better so thank you for coming, enjoy!”
Muchova was similarly full of credit for her rival, but hoped to come back better in future.
She said to the crowd: “Thank you, thank you very much, I’ll try to keep it short because I’m a bit emotional. This is incredible, thank you everyone. It’s been amazing two – actually three – weeks in Paris for me and my team. So close yet so far, which happens when you play one of the best. Iga, I want to congratulate you out loud, you and your team.
“I want to thank everyone behind the curtains as well, physios, ball kids, everyone – it’s been an amazing tournament. I would like to thank each one of you, it’s impossible but thank you guys, I would not be standing here if you were not pushing me every match, the energy and everything.
“The last one to my team to my box, the hardest one. When I look at those people I actually feel like I’m the winner so thank you. One last thing, thank you to my coaches, my parents, my friends. I hope this is only the beginning for us, we’ve come a long way and we’re going to get stronger and be back.”
