Iga Swiatek Defeats Sofia Kenin to Become The First Polish Player to Win Grand Slam Title at French Open 2020

It was the day of the finale at the French Open 2020. The young prodigy Iga Swiatek was up against the Australian Open 2020 winner Sofia Kenin. It was the battle to decide who would have the final say on clay. In a thriller, Swiatek showed how lethal she can be and defeated the World No.6 in straight sets: 6-4, 6-1.

Set-1: Kenin tried but Iga Swiatek was too good

Playing her maiden Grand Slam final, it was Swiatek who served first. She won the first point of the match thanks to an unforced error by Kenin. She won the next three points to gain a 1-0 lead after the first game. The 19-year-old was looking ruthless, playing some great forehand winners right from the beginning.

She earned a breaking-point in the next game and won it to extend her lead to 2-0.

Kenin had no answers to her accurate serves. The Polish player won the third game and was leading 3-0. Kenin gained some momentum after that and won the next game, now trailing at 3-1. She started to return much more effectively in the fifth game. She broke in that game, reducing the margin to 3-2.

The American equalized it at 3-3 in the very next game due to an unforced error by Swiatek. It was looking like a tough battle.

The first deuce of the match came in the seventh game. It was Swiatek who was regaining the momentum. She won the advantage but could not capitalize on it due to a delicate drop shot by Kenin. But the 19-year-old won the game, eventually leading again at 4-3.

The subsequent game witnessed five deuces. It was the longest game so far, lasting 9 minutes and 17 seconds. Swiatek held her nerve and won the game on her the third break point. She was now just one game away from winning the first set.

Swiatek continued her dream form. She was looking thirsty. Serving for the set, she earned a set-point. But Kenin not only saved it, but broke in the game to narrow down the lead to 5-4. She still had to save one more game. But it was impossible to stop Swiatek. She earned two set-points again and won the 50-minute long set 6-4 on the very first set point.

Set-2: The dominance of Swiatek continues

Serving again in the first game, Swiatek began the set by winning a point. But Kenin was not going to give it easy. She broke in the very first game to take the lead. She was leading for the first time in the match at this moment. Not for long though, as Swiatek broke in the next game with an amazing backhand winner, leveling the scoreline at 1-1. She didn’t lose the momentum and was now leading 2-1.

Kenin took a medical time-out after this. She had to regain the momentum in order to make a comeback. Meanwhile, Swiatek was looking all fresh and energetic. She was warming up. She realized that she was just four games away from making history.

Swiatek broke yet again in the 4th game to extend her lead to 3-1. Swiatek began the next game by winning the point of a beautiful drop shot. She won 4 back-to-back points and was now leading 4-1. The 19-year-old broke again in the next set and was now just one game away. She earned the championship point in the next game and won the set 6-1.