French Open: Defending champion Iga Swiatek booked her place in the Roland-Garros final for the third time in four years after she ended the dream run of 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, beating the Brazilian 6-2, 7-6(7).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Just as she did in 2020, when she won her first Grand Slam title as the unseeded World No.54, Swiatek hasn't dropped a set en route to the final, where she will face the unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova, who edged out No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller earlier on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The win also ensured Swiatek will retain the No.1 ranking after Roland Garros concludes, whatever the result against Muchova.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm just pretty happy to be in the final again. It was a tough match, and especially the second set, every point counted. It was stressful in some moments, so I'm happy that I was really solid and I was able to close it in the tiebreaker," Swiatek said after the win as quoted by WTA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Pole had to come from a break down in each set and saved a set point in the second-set tiebreak and eight games marked the most she lost in her six matches so far this fortnight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After turning around an 0-1 head-to-head against Haddad Maia, Swiatek will seek to do it against Muchova in Saturday's final. The Czech won their only prior meeting four years ago in Prague, when Swiatek was a 17-year-old ranked No.95 in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nAjinkya Rahane #WTCFinal2023<\/a> #AUSvIND<\/a> #Australia<\/a> #TheOval<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/C1WrNtHrf8<\/a><\/p>\r\n— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) June 9, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n