Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff, wins French Open 2022

World No 1 Iga Swiatek won straight sets against an 18-year-old Coco Gauff in the women’s singles final to win the 2022 French Open on Saturday. With the triumph, the Polish extended her winning streak to 35 matches. 

Gauff took a winner to level the second set 15-15. The American teen was denying Swiatek an easy win. However, the 21-year-old forced errors to take the point and seal the match 6-1, 6-3. 

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Swiatek needs one more win to go past Venus Williams’ record in 2000, 35 wins consecutively, to establish the longest streak in this century. She has now won her past six tournaments and is 42-3 this season.

While the Polish player roared after the win, Gauff looked stunned and had tears in her eyes. 

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“This is a first time for me so let’s try to get through this. Well done to Iga, you totally deserve this. Maube we can meet in another final and I can get a win on you one day. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get this one today, hopefully this is the first final of many,” the American, youngest woman to reach a Grand Slam final since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova at 2004 Wimbledon, said after the final. 

Swiatek had won the French Open in 2020. The only difference from then was that she could collect the trophy mask-less on Saturday. 

Speaking to Coco Gauff, she said,”First if all I want to congratulate you, I see you are improving every week, you will find it and you will be there. I am pretty sure of that.”

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She then thanked her team and asked a war-torn Ukraine to stay strong. 

“I want to thank my team. I am pretty happy as every piece has come together. I want to thank my dad for everything and my sister. Two years ago winning this was amazing. I feel i worked hard, and the pressure was big. I’d love to be back, and oh my god. It seems like I need some more experience of this. I want to say something to Ukraine, to stay strong, as the war is still there,” Swiatek added. 

Rafael Nadal will face Casper Ruud in the men’s final Sunday.