Swiatek defeats Gauff for second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros
Iga Swiatek defeated Coco Gauff in the women’s singles final at Roland Garros to win her second Grand Slam title.
The 21-year-old Pole, whose maiden major title came in Paris in 2020, defeated 18-year-old Gauff 6-1 6-3 for her sixth straight tournament victory, adding to her wins at Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome this year.
"I'm 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," said Swiatek, comparing her two Grand Slam triumphs.
"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, you know. This time I felt like I really did the work."
In beating Gauff, Swiatek recorded her 35th consecutive match-win and equalled the longest WTA winning streak this century, surpassing Serena Williams (who achieved 34 successive wins in 2013) and tying Venus Williams’ 35 consecutive victories in 2000.
A historic moment for @iga_swiatek!🇵🇱
— ITF (@ITFTennis) June 4, 2022
✅ Wins her second #RolandGarros title after beating Gauff 6-1 6-3
✅ Equals the longest win streak this century (@Venuseswilliams, 35-straight) pic.twitter.com/e4g4Obyldg
Gauff made a nervy start but the American, whose previous best Grand Slam result was reaching the quarter-finals in Paris in 2021, did grow into the match as it progressed.
By then, it was too late to turn the tide and Gauff admitted that her opponent was simply too strong.
"I wasn't nervous really entering the match," Gauff said. "When I lost the first couple of games the nerves started to come, but when I lost the first set I really came out in the second and had a new mindset."
"But for the most part I think that Iga was just too good."