IGA Świątek wściekła dokonuje wyczynu po tym, jak rywalka wysłała jej ostrą wiadomość.
Then it was Swiatek’s turn. She had held up four fingers towards her player’s box after clinching match point with an 117mph unreturned serve, but her speech was somewhat awkward. She kept having to stop because the PA system was running a little slow, so that she could hear her own words coming back at her. It was the only time she looked discombobulated all day.
The numerous similarities between Swiatek and Nadal include the way in which she works the percentages, constantly placing her opponents in such uncomfortable positions that all their options are bad. Then, if the result is a shorter or weaker ball, she opens her shoulders and drives it away for a winner.
One might also cite the fact that they both have birthdays during the French Open and that they are two fidgety characters with a matching need for everything to be in exactly the right place. As soon as the fourth miniature Coupe Suzanne Lenglen arrives in Swiatek’s trophy cabinet, she will have them all standing perfectly in line.
were against Osaka.
Saturday’s match was the most one-sided of Swiatek’s French Open finals. Nadal also handed out some real beastings here, notably in the 2008 final when he conceded only four games to a disconsolate Roger Federer. But men’s tennis usually looks a little more competitive on the scoreboard, if only because the serve is a more significant advantage.
At the presentation ceremony, 1970s rivals Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova applauded the players. Evert holds the record for most Roland Garros titles, with seven. But if Swiatek stays fit she will probably overhaul that figure by the end of the decade, if not before.
Last week, the former French Open mixed-doubles champion Mary Carillo revealed that Evert had described Swiatek as “unmatched” on clay in a text conversation, adding that “my results were [the best], but not my game. Different era”.
“To play you here is the toughest challenge in this sport,” said Paolini to Swiatek at the ceremony, reusing a sentence which used to be directed towards Nadal.
