French Open 2021: Iga Swiatek Falls Short Of Maria Sharapova’s Incredible Winning Streak Record

There couldn’t have been a better way for Iga Swiatek to ring on her 20th birthday. To call in the celebrations, Swiatek began her title defense in the most extraordinary fashion by bageling her first-round opponent, Kaja Juvan, en route to a straight-sets victory at the 2021 French Open.

In a display of sheer dominance, Swiatek won the first seven games of the match and by doing so, she achieved an incredible streak.

Iga Swiatek celebrates 20th birthday with a remarkable streak

First up, by winning the first set 6-0 and having double-bagel’d Karolína Plíšková in the final of the 2021 Italian Open, Swiatek accomplished in hammering three bagels in a row.

However, an equally remarkable streak followed, Swiatek in the process won an impressive 20 consecutive games. The WTA star’s 20-game winning streak began when she served out the match at 7-6, 5-3 in her semifinal win against Coco Gauff at the Italian Open.

What followed was three consecutive bagels and then clinching the opening game of the second set against Juvan, eventually taking the streak to 20. Ultimately, Swiatek’s exceptional streak ended when Juvan held her service game to level the second set 1-1.

The Polish women’s 20-game winning streak reminded many of Maria Sharapova‘s phenomenal 28 game winning streak at the 2013 Australian Open.

The five-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova, registered two double bagel Grand Slam wins in a row in the opening two rounds at the 2013 Australian Open. Subsequently, the Russian won the first four games of her third-round match against Serena Williams and extended her streak to an astounding 28 consecutive games.

For Swiatek, claiming victory in such a domineering manner bodes well for her chances of defending her title at the French Open. She could become the first woman since Justine Henin in 2006 to successfully defend her French Open crown if she lifts the title in two weeks’ time.