Sabalenka Stuns Swiatek to Reach French Open Final
Sabalenka Ends Swiatek’s French Open Reign to Reach First Roland Garros Final
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to her maiden French Open final after defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in a high-stakes semi-final showdown at Roland Garros.
The Belarusian star powered past the four-time champion with a 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 victory, halting Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at the tournament.
Sabalenka, 27, will now face second seed Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final. The American booked her place with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over surprise French wildcard Lois Boisson, whose fairy-tale run ended in front of an adoring home crowd.
Sabalenka, who has previously won all three of her Grand Slam titles on hard courts, described the victory as a breakthrough moment.
“It feels incredible, but the job is not done yet,” Sabalenka said. “Iga is the toughest opponent, especially here in Paris. I’m proud I managed to get this win.”
A Clash of Power and Prestige
The much-anticipated semi-final featured two of the sport’s most dominant players in recent years.
Between them, Swiatek and Sabalenka had claimed six of the last ten major titles, making this clash a de facto final in many fans’ eyes.
With rainy weather forcing the roof closed, the heavier indoor conditions seemed to favor Sabalenka, who came out with blistering pace and aggression.
She raced to a double-break lead before Swiatek adjusted her baseline positioning and clawed her way back to a 5-4 lead.
Still, the opening set went to a tense tie-break, where Sabalenka found her rhythm and steamrolled through 7-1.
The second set was similarly erratic, with both players trading breaks. Swiatek regained composure long enough to edge the set 6-4, but in the decider, she faded under Sabalenka’s relentless pressure.
The top seed swept through the third set in just 22 minutes, sealing the biggest clay-court win of her career.
“I think I lost my intensity a bit,” Swiatek admitted. “She played as strong as in the first set, but I didn’t react well.”
Boisson’s Dream Run Ends
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, 22-year-old French wildcard Lois Boisson’s sensational run came to an end against a composed Coco Gauff.
Ranked 361st in the world, Boisson stunned the tennis world by defeating top seeds Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Her journey was even more remarkable considering she missed last year’s tournament due to a torn ACL.
But Gauff, the 2022 runner-up in Paris, proved too strong. She broke Boisson six times and dominated from start to finish, closing the match in just over an hour.
Despite the loss, Boisson leaves Roland Garros with newfound acclaim and national pride.
The stage is now set for a blockbuster final between the sport’s brightest stars: Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka Stuns Swiatek to Reach French Open Final