Swiatek reigns supreme at French Open

EMMANUEL DUNAND/ AFP

Poland's Iga Swiatek continued her dominance on Parisian clay with a third French Open crown in the last four years, defeating unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-4 in a thrilling final.

She captured her fourth Grand Slam title in the process.

Swiatek has now lost only two out of 26 Grand Slam matches since moving to world number one in April last year and the 22-year-old became the youngest woman to bag consecutive trophies at Roland Garros since Monica Seles, who won from 1990-92.

The US Open champion also joined Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only women in the Open Era to emerge victorious in each of their first four major finals, but she was made to work for it by a determined Muchova.

"First of all congratulations to Karolina," said Swiatek, who became the first woman to successfully defend the Roland Garros women's singles title since Justine Henin in 2007.

"I knew it would be a tough match. I hope you're going to have many more finals. Congratulations to your team. I know how much teams are important I wouldn't be here without my team."

For Muchova, it was a first defeat against a player ranked in the top three in six meetings.

"I'll keep it short because it's bit emotional," she said, with tears flowing and the crowd chanting her name. "It was so close yet so far but I played one of the best, Iga. I want to congratulate you out loud again and your team.

"To my box. When I look at those people, I feel I'm the winner. Thank you. I hope this is only the beginning. We've come a long way."

Swiatek's third win in Paris put her level with modern day three-time champions Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

Fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek later won the men's doubles title as the Croatian-American pair defeated Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-3 6-1.

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