Has Aryna Sabalenka Ended Iga Swiatek’s Dominance at French Open?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka halts Iga Swiatek's 26-match winning streak.
- Sabalenka advances to her first clay-court Grand Slam final.
- This match showcased a dramatic turnaround in momentum.
- Sabalenka's powerful performance solidified her position as a top contender.
- Swiatek's defeat raises questions about her future dominance.
Paris, June 5 (NationPress) Top seed Aryna Sabalenka brought an end to Iga Swiatek’s reign at Roland Garros with a dramatic triumph on Thursday, halting the Pole's impressive 26-match winning streak at the French Open. Sabalenka secured a 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 semifinal victory, paving her way to her first Grand Slam final on clay.
In a high-stakes match played under the closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier, Sabalenka exhibited remarkable strength and composure, taking down the four-time champion in just over two hours. This victory marked her 40th main-draw win of the 2025 season—the most on tour—and it also led her to her sixth Grand Slam final, more than any other player in the 2020s.
“This victory is significant for me,” said Sabalenka. “Defeating Iga here, where she has been nearly unbeatable, illustrates my growth.”
Swiatek, seeded No. 5 in the tournament, had remained undefeated in Paris since 2021, boasting a stellar 40-3 record at Roland Garros, including victories in 2020, 2022, and 2023. However, she found herself outmatched in the final set by Sabalenka’s relentless aggression and impeccable execution.
The initial set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka racing to a 3-0 lead thanks to a double break, only for Swiatek to fight back to 5-5. The set saw both players exchanging breaks in a tense hour-long battle that ended in a tiebreak, where Sabalenka surged ahead decisively, winning 7-1 and delivering the first significant blow of the match.
Swiatek managed to regroup in the second set, flattening her forehand and taking the net more aggressively. She secured an early break and maintained her lead, finishing the set 6-4 to keep her title defense alive.
However, any momentum she had was swiftly erased in the final set.
Sabalenka unleashed a stunning 22-minute performance, committing zero unforced errors while hitting five winners and converting all three break points. Swiatek struggled to respond to Sabalenka’s speed and precision as the last set concluded with a score of 6-0.
With this win, Sabalenka avenged her previous loss to Swiatek in the 2022 US Open semifinal—their only prior Grand Slam meeting. By reaching the finals of the 2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open, and now Roland Garros, she becomes the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to achieve three consecutive major finals.
She will face the winner of the second semifinal between World No. 2 Coco Gauff and French wildcard Lois Boisson in Saturday’s final.