Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Muchova, loses no grip on title
Posted : 11 June 2023
Iga Swiatek continued her dominance at the French Open by battling past Karolina Muchova to secure her third Roland Garros title in four years.
Despite being the top seed and the favorite, Swiatek faced a tough challenge and had to dig deep to claim a hard-fought 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over the 43rd-ranked Czech player.
In the decisive set, Muchova broke Swiatek to take a 4-3 lead. However, the 22-year-old Polish player finished strongly, displaying resilience and determination to ultimately triumph.
With this victory, Swiatek has now won a total of four Grand Slam titles and becomes the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to successfully defend the French Open title.
Reflecting on the match, Swiatek acknowledged the intensity of the past few weeks and expressed her happiness at the outcome. She emphasized her focus on giving her best effort every day, rather than dwelling on records.
Muchova, who battled injuries and was advised by doctors to quit last year, showcased remarkable resilience. She fought back from a set and 3-0 deficit, turning the match into a highly competitive contest and coming close to winning her first major title.
However, after failing to consolidate her break and allowing Swiatek to level the score at 4-4, Muchova ultimately lost on her opponent's first match point when she double-faulted. Swiatek's emotional reaction, dropping her racquet and falling to her haunches in tears before embracing Muchova, captured the intensity of the moment.
As Swiatek celebrated with her team in the stands, reminiscent of her victory celebration from the previous year, Muchova reflected on what might have been from her chair.
During the award ceremony, Muchova received a standing ovation, evoking an emotional response from her. She expressed the bittersweet feeling of being so close to victory yet falling short against one of the best players in the game.
Swiatek, who has now won seven titles in 16 clay-court tournaments, had not dropped a set at this year's French Open or in any of her previous three major finals until the match against Muchova. Despite moments of fluster, she showcased her composure when it mattered most.
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