Teenager Iga Swiatek rose to the occasion as she defeated fourth seed Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-1 in the final of the French Open to become the first Polish player, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title.
It was another near-flawless performance from the 19-year-old, who did not drop more than five games in any of her seven matches during the Roland Garros fortnight.
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“It was overwhelming for me,” said Swiatek, who slammed 25 winners past Kenin on the day. “Two years ago I won a junior grand slam and now I’m here. It feels like such a short time. I’m just overwhelmed.”
Congratulations @iga_swiatek What a sterling two weeks of brilliant tennis. Many, many more GS Titles to come. @SofiaKenin hold your head up high; you had a great year! 👏
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) October 10, 2020
Unseeded at the tournament and ranked 54 in the world before the French open started, Swiatek is also the lowest-ranked woman to win the clay-court major since rankings were introduced in 1975.
“Another underdog wins a Grand Slam in women’s tennis, it’s crazy,” she added.
Swiatek cannot be stopped!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hsfj5u6JPw
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 10, 2020
Having raced to a 3-0 lead, the Pole showed a few signs of nerves as she struggled to figure out Kenin’s game and let the American equal the opening set 3-0. She also failed to serve out the set at 5-3, but kept her cool to break Kenin’s serve in the next game and seal the set.
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Australian Open champion Kenin, only 21 herself, needed a medical time out at 2-1 in the second set. On resumption, Swiatek tightened the screws, dropping only five points after that to seal victory in an hour and 24 minutes.
Congratulations to young @rolandgarros champion @iga_swiatek – a nerveless performance from the Polish star and the first of many majors to come. Best wishes from afar, 🚀
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) October 10, 2020
Swiatek, who defeated last year’s runner up Marketa Vondrousova and top seed Simona Halep en route the final, did not drop a single set as she raced to a maiden Grand Slam title.
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She is the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to clinch the title without conceding a set and only the second unseeded champion at Roland-Garros, after Jelena Ostapenko three years ago. Like Ostapenko, it also marked her first tour title.
Swiatek will rise to world No.17 in the WTA rankings on Monday.
