French Open: Iga Swiatek after triumph - "Completely different from 2020"
Iga Swiatek deservedly won the French Open 2022 in a one-sided final on Saturday. Now the serial winner is also ready to celebrate this triumph extensively.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jun 05, 2022, 08:09 am
If Iga Swiatek enters the match court these days, there is a clear tendency as to who could later leave it as the winner. The Pole has now won 35 - in words: thirty-five - matches en suite. And there are currently few signs that this streak could end anytime soon for the Polish high-flyer.
For the world number one, winning the title in the Stade Roland Garros is only the second championship in a Grand Slam tournament ever, in 2020 Swiatek - also at the French Open - registered as the premiere winner. Parallels between the title runs? Hardly ever, says the Pole. "It's completely different from my win in 2020. Now I feel like I'm ready for what's ahead. I feel more settled, two years ago everything was even more hectic," said the Pole.
Swiatek in a party mood
While the triumph two years ago was still a big surprise, this season the women's tournament ended with a winner that even less attentive pursuers on the WTA tour would have predicted. This is also due to the Polish woman's preparation for the second major of the year, which she celebrated in an impressive manner with four WTA 1000 titles. "Now I feel even more ready to celebrate," Swiatek said with a grin.
In 2020, winning the title felt surreal for the Pole, she didn't believe she could already win a Grand Slam title. "This time it was all about work and effort. I'm also more aware of what it's like to win a Grand Slam and what it takes, every aspect of the game has to work," said the world number one.
Endgames for Swiatek especially
Although Swiatek is currently bringing a good deal of self-confidence to the pitch, the final of a Grand Slam tournament is still something quite extraordinary for the 21-year-old. "There's always going to be a higher level of stress. You feel like the tournament is coming to an end and this is the last game, so you want to finish it properly."
Of course, this higher level of stress also occurs on the other side of the network, which Swiatek is happy to take advantage of. "I try to focus on my strengths. I'm aware that my competitors will also be stressed. I try not to panic and be less stressed than them." That worked perfectly in the final of the French Open - apart from a small period of weakness at the beginning of the second set, Swiatek showed no weaknesses against Coco Gauff from the USA. And is now a Grand Slam winner. For the second time.
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