French Open 2022, Final, Saturday, 04.06.2022
In record time to the final – the top favourite at the French Open 2022 actually did it! No one could stop the world No. 1, it’s hard to imagine her showing nerves in Saturday’s final of all things.
She is 21 years old, but her opponent is even three years younger! A final in which mental strength will play a big role. Read my Swiatek Gauff tip to find out why I don’t think the American has much of a chance here!
What else can you say about this woman? 21 years old for a few weeks now and ready to dominate women’s tennis for years to come. Iga Swiatek is more than the measure of all things, seems to be on a different level than the competition.
Even before the French Open, the Pole was unbeatable, winning five titles in a row. Three sets? If she gets involved in something like that, you almost have to mark it in your calendar.
In Paris, too, she showed from the start how superior she is to her rivals. She only lost two games against Lessja Tsurenko and Alison Riske, and her 6-3, 7-5 win over Danka Kovinic in the third round was almost a work victory.
In the last 16, China’s Zheng Quinwen actually managed to take the first set from her in a tiebreak. Swiatek shook herself off for a moment, followed it up with a 6-0, 6-2 win and put an end to the hopes of her rivals.
The supposedly toughest opponent was waiting in the quarter-finals, Jessica Pegula. At least that’s what it looked like on paper, because in the end the No. 1 player didn’t show any weakness at all when she won 6-3, 6-2.
Could Daria Kasatkina do anything in the semi-finals? 6-2, 6-1, once again Swiatek stormed ahead in record time. For the final, hardly anyone doubts that she will achieve this feat again.
With Swiatek leading 2-0 in the H2H, this could also lead to Gauff facing odds of 6.40. For the 18-year-old American a dream has come true in Paris, for the first time in her still young career she has reached a final at a Grand Slam.
The special thing about it: she even managed to do it without losing a set! In the draw she got the luckier half of the table and therefore avoided a lot of really strong opponents.
Rebecca Marino and Alison Van Uytvanck had as little chance as Kaia Kanepi and Elise Mertens. In the quarter-finals, Gauff beat her compatriot Sloane Stephens 7-5, 6-2 and faced tournament surprise Martina Trevisan in the semi-finals.
Both started very nervously, but in the end Gauff’s class prevailed. Her 6-3, 6-1 gave her the greatest sporting moment, which she will even improve on Saturday.
Winning over 70% of her points on first serve, this strength was instrumental in her victory. Gauff and Swiatek are almost the same size, both serve with the right hand. Good conditions for a close final!
My Swiatek Gauff tip
Does Coco Gauff stand any chance at all in the final or will Iga Swiatek decide all by herself how quickly the match will be over? In theory, the young American has a good chance of hurting the world number 1.
However, I see a big advantage for Swiatek. She is used to big matches and therefore not nervous at all. Gauff is experiencing everything for the first time, she already needed start-up time against Martina Trevisan.
Start-up time that will cost her points immediately against Swiatek. In my eyes, she has no chance of really hurting the best tennis player in the world. Consequently, my tip is:
Swiatek wins 2:0!
