Iga Swiatek matches Rafael Nadal record with 3rd French Open title

Swiatek matches Nadal by winning 4 Grand Slams at the age of 22.

Iga Swiatek matches Rafael Nadal record with 3rd French Open title

Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal (Image via Sky Sports and Sports Illustrated)

The French Open women’s singles final was a fantastic display of tenacity. Not challenged throughout the fortnight, Iga Swiatek cruised her way to the final. However, she met an inspired Karolina Muchova in the finale, who was coming off a miraculous comeback win against Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals. It was going to be tough, but Swiatek was just that much stronger mentally to eventually win the final.

She won the first comfortably, 6-2. However, we saw a resilient response from the Czech star. Muchova broke the Swiatek serve three times and, in the process, lost her serve twice, eventually winning the set 7-5. Muchova also took the most crucial third-set break. However, Swiatek held her nerve and pulled things back. She eventually broke the Muchova serve once again to claim the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

YouTube video

This made her only the second woman to defend her singles title in Paris. However, the other big achievement and an important one for Swiatek would be that she has matched her idol, Rafael Nadal. Rafael Nadal had an epic run when he started on the tour, winning four Grand Slams at the age of 22.

FS Video

The only difference between the two was that Nadal won all four in Paris from 2005 to 2008. Swiatek has won three out of the four in Paris. The only other one came in New York when she won the US Open last year. It is a great achievement for the Polish ace, as stamping your authority on the tour at a young age can promise a big future ahead. Can she carry on like this, injury-free, for long?

Related: Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Muchova to win 3rd French Open title, scripts history by becoming only the second woman this century to retain the crown 

Swiatek will eye a solid Wimbledon

IMG COM 20230610 2244 53 6211
Iga Swiatek (Image via Sky Sports)

Another special Rafael Nadal achievement is that he has won the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back. It’s considered an extremely tough thing to do, as both surfaces provide vastly different conditions. The clay in Paris is slow and bouncy. 

On the other hand, the grass in London is skiddy and low. With only three weeks between the two events, players find it really tough to adapt to the new conditions. Swiatek has a golden opportunity to accomplish this feat. She is in great form, and if she can adapt to the conditions quickly, she can do great magic in London. Fans would believe she can, as so far she has looked invincible on the tour.

In case you missed it: