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Swiatek and Sabalenka to meet for place in Paris final
AP • June 4th, 2025 8:00 am
Photo: AP
Four-time champion Iga Swiatek's 26th successive win at Roland Garros set up a semi-final against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in what will be their first French Open meeting.
Swiatek defeated Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-5 on Tuesday to extend her outstanding run. The consecutive wins record on the Parisian red clay is Chris Evert's 29.
Sabalenka beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to reach the Paris semi-finals for the second time.
Having been searching for her best form in recent months, Swiatek, who also struggled in the previous round, was in total control in the opening set.
She was made to work harder by her 13th-seeded Ukrainian rival in the second , dropping her serve in the fourth game after hitting two straight unforced errors into the net.
But Swiatek broke back immediately and took advantage of a poor service game by Svitolina – watched by her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils – to break again with a thunderous forehand return and move 6-5 ahead. Swiatek sealed the win with a final ace.
Swiatek has won five of the six matches she's played on clay against Sabalenka, including a thrilling three-setter in Spain last year.
"The Madrid final against her is one of the best and most exciting finals that I have played," said Swiatek, who has not won a title or reached a final since her victory at Roland Garros last year. "It is always a challenge against Aryna.".
Sabalenka is trying to reach her sixth grand slam final, and first at Roland Garros.
"I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win," Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka overcame a shaky start and windy conditions to prevail against Zheng 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 and extend her record against the Chinese to 7-1.
The score did not fully reflect the closeness of the match but Sabalenka demonstrated why she is No.1 seed, making the difference on big points, while Zheng struggled with her serve in tense moments."
Sabalenka had lost her most recent match against Zheng last month in Rome, having dominated their first six encounters. She said that loss was actually a good thing in the middle of an already exhausting season.
"I was actually glad I lost that match, because I needed a little break before Roland Garros," Sabalenka said. "Today, I was just more fresh. I was ready to battle, I was ready to leave everything I had on court to get this win."
Sabalenka, a three-time grand slam champion, has yet to drop a set in Paris.
The second semi-final will be decided on Wednesday with Coco Gauff taking on fellow American Madison Keys and Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva facing the French Open surprise package, world No.361 Lois Boisson.
