Unseeded Polish teenager Iga Swiatek, taking such major success in her stride, has booked her first Grand Slam final with another efficient display.
Swiatek stopped Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska’s magical three-week run in Paris with a 6-2, 6-1 victory on Thursday.
The 19-year-old has now become the first Polish woman to feature in a Roland-Garros final in the Open Era and the first at any major since Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon 2012.
Iga says: “It seems unreal. On one hand, I know that I can play great tennis. On the other hand, it’s kind of surprising for me. I never would have thought that I’m going to be in the final. It’s crazy. It’s amazing for me, like a dream come true.”
“I think it’s going to hit me, like, after the tournament. Right now, I’m just living the dream. I just want to focus on the other matches, on doubles. I’m going to enjoy everything after.”
Watch the match highlights below
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In 12 from 12 sets, the Polish teenager, who is projected to rise to world No.24 just for reaching the final, has ruthlessly ripped through the draw. She also told ESPN earlier in the tournament that she” learned tennis playing on my PlayStation.”
Whether it was a joke or not, you could see some resemblance on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Thursday.
The 19-year-old played with consummate ease, whipping her forehand with menace, keeping Podoroska on the back foot throughout.
It was a performance any major champion would be proud of, leaving the Pole to orchestrate the limited crowd to raise the noise after just 69 minutes of action.
The word “efficient” has been to go-to for Swiatek in describing her game in Paris and her climb up the ranks has certainly been efficient.
She has gone from Roland-Garros 2018 girls doubles champion, and a junior singles winner at Wimbledon that same summer, to disrupt the established order in just two years.
Last June, her debut run in the Roland-Garros crashed painfully when she lost against a scintillating Simona Halep in the fourth round but she remedied that this year as she swatted aside the top seed 6-1, 6-2, the highlight of six scorching performances.
Swiatek travels with a sports psychologist. She explains: “I always wanted to work with a psychologist because I had this belief that it’s like a big part of the game.
“But my parents, like, they weren’t as open to that as I was. Actually, I don’t know where that came from, to be honest.”
“I feel like I’ve been so efficient and so focused for whole matches that I put a lot of pressure on my opponents. I’m not even nervous in second sets because I know it’s going to probably go my way.
“It’s going to be different in a final because I’m going to play a much more experienced player. I will need to be on a different level, the higher level, even though I’m winning easily right now.”
The teenager will face Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who edged past the rejuvenated two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.
“Sofia, she’s on fire this year,” says the Pole, “Usually I’m that kind of player who is playing better under pressure. If I’m not going to choke up, I think everything will be fine.”
“There’s a reason why I was so efficient. Really, I’m staying super focused. I’m not letting my opponents to play their best tennis. So, I hope I’m going to do that on Saturday.”
“I have no expectations. I don’t care if I’m going to lose or win. I’m going to just play my best tennis. The final is also a great result, so really I have no pressure.”
Awesome! Congrats