French Open Semifinal: Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka Showdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iga Swiatek secured her 26th consecutive French Open win to reach the semifinals. She will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who remains undefeated in Paris this year. This will be their first-ever Roland-Garros meeting and a high-stakes Grand Slam clash.
Swiatek vs. Sabalenka: Quick Looks
- Swiatek’s Streak: Extended to 26 consecutive wins at Roland-Garros, chasing Chris Evert’s record of 29.
- Semifinal Showdown: First-ever French Open meeting between Swiatek and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
- Clay Court History: Swiatek leads their clay-court head-to-head 5–1, including last year’s Madrid final.
- Sabalenka’s Form: Yet to drop a set in Paris, returning to the semifinals for the second time.
- Zheng Falls: Sabalenka defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3), 6-3.
- Swiatek Overcomes Errors: Defeated Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 despite a second-set lapse.
- Mental Strength: Both players used past setbacks to sharpen focus ahead of their semifinal clash.
- High Stakes: Swiatek aims for a fifth title; Sabalenka eyes her first French Open final.
French Open Semifinal: Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka Showdown
Deep Look
Swiatek and Sabalenka Set for High-Stakes French Open Semifinal
PARIS — The 2025 French Open is poised for an electrifying semifinal as four-time champion Iga Swiatek continues her dominance on Parisian clay with a 26th straight win, setting up a must-watch encounter against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek eased past Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 on Tuesday, maintaining her unbeaten streak at Roland-Garros dating back three tournaments. Her clinical performance in the opening set was followed by a gritty comeback in the second, where she rebounded after dropping serve early.
“It’s always a challenge against Aryna,” Swiatek said. “She really has a game for every surface.”
With the win, the Polish star inches closer to matching Chris Evert’s all-time record of 29 straight French Open wins. Swiatek has become nearly untouchable in Paris, and her semifinal match could be her most testing yet.
Swiatek’s Power, Precision, and Composure on Display
In the quarterfinal, Swiatek looked like her best self — confident, precise, and unshaken by a minor mid-match wobble. After an early second-set break by Svitolina, Swiatek quickly regained composure, breaking back with a fiery forehand and eventually closing the match with a resounding ace.
Her confidence is grounded in experience. Swiatek has faced Sabalenka six times on clay, winning five of those encounters. Most memorably, she edged her Belarusian rival in a three-set thriller in the 2024 Madrid final.
“That Madrid final is one of the most exciting matches I’ve played,” Swiatek said, signaling just how intense this semifinal could become.
Sabalenka’s Statement Win Over Zheng
Sabalenka, meanwhile, is playing some of her sharpest tennis of the season. She overcame Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in a tight 7-6(3), 6-3 victory that showcased her mental fortitude and shot-making brilliance.
Though she lost to Zheng last month in Rome — her only loss to the Chinese player in eight matchups — Sabalenka viewed that defeat as a blessing in disguise.
“I needed a little break before Roland-Garros,” Sabalenka said. “Today I was fresh and ready to fight.”
Despite a shaky start and swirling winds on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Sabalenka outlasted Zheng by performing better under pressure. Zheng started strong, broke early, and nearly stole the first set. But Sabalenka’s consistency in the tiebreak proved crucial.
She then relied on her signature powerful backhands and precise returns to close out the second set, breaking Zheng’s serve in the final two games to seal the match.
Clash of Titans: What to Expect in the Semifinal
Both players bring top-tier credentials into Thursday’s clash. Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, thrives on the slow red clay and has built an aura of invincibility in Paris. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is hungry to add Roland-Garros to her résumé.
They have shared a fierce rivalry in recent years, trading victories in tight matches across surfaces. Thursday will mark their first meeting at Roland-Garros, adding a fresh chapter to an already compelling narrative.
Swiatek’s ability to reset quickly after setbacks and Sabalenka’s brute-force game style make this a classic stylistic contrast — one likely to test both players’ mental and physical thresholds.
Legacy Stakes and Title Implications
Whoever wins will be the heavy favorite heading into the final and will have navigated one of the toughest draws in recent memory to get there.
“We’ve had a lot of great battles,” Sabalenka said. “This will be another one.”
Tennis fans, buckle up — the semifinals are going to be a war.
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