Iga Swiatek is the massive favourite in Saturday’s French Open final with Jasmine Paolini standing in the way of her and a third straight title here. She would join Monica Seles and Justine Henin as the only women to win three straight titles if she defeats the Italian. Swiatek won the only meeting between the two, cruising to a 6-3 6-0 victory two years ago at the US Open.
Paolini’s experience told in the semi finals as she outplayed Mirra Andreeva, easing past the 17 year-old 6-3 6-1. She kept things tidy with just 10 unforced errors in comparison to the Russian’s 29. “I was so nervous, but, you know, I step on court, and I try to hit the ball, to move fast, to be in the present, to play point-by-point. Then when I break her in the first set, I started to feel better and better.”
It was the same old story in Swiatek’s semi final, with the Pole moving to 11-1 against Coco Gauff. She exposed the American’s forehand time and again with countless eras off it during her 6-2 6-4 win. Swiatek did have to come from a break down in the second, reeling off four straight games from 1-3 down. “I think I was pretty intense and putting pressure on Coco,” Swiatek said. “Even though I got broken [at] the beginning of the second set, I knew that I can come back quickly, and I got my level of intensity a little bit higher to do that.”
If Swiatek plays well, this shouldn’t be a close match. Paolini can hit fairly big but does not overwhelm or overpower opponents in the manner needed to trouble the defending champion. A poor service day could see this one end even quicker as Swiatek will be all over the return as it is. Paolini does compete in the Women’s Doubles final as well, where her chances of a title are much greater.
Prediction – Iga Swiatek in straight sets
