Aryna Sabalenka moved to within touching distance of her first French Open crown after dethroning four-time champion Iga Swiatek in a thrilling semi-final battle on Thursday.
The world No. 1 triumphed 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 to snap Swiatek’s remarkable 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka will now face Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final, after the American second seed ended French wildcard Lois Boisson’s fairytale run with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Sabalenka Surges Past the ‘Queen of Clay’
Under the closed roof on a rain-soaked Paris afternoon, Sabalenka’s aggressive returns overwhelmed Swiatek early on.
While the Pole fought back to claim the second set, the world No. 1 exploded in the decider, winning it in just 22 minutes.
Swiatek was broken eight times in the match — a stat that underlines how Sabalenka’s power game disarmed her most formidable rival.
This is Sabalenka’s first Roland Garros final and her fifth Grand Slam final in her last seven majors.
Gauff Cruises Into Second French Open Final
Coco Gauff, the 2022 runner-up, produced a composed and clinical performance to end Lois Boisson’s Cinderella story, dismantling the 22-year-old French wildcard in just over an hour.
Boisson had become the home crowd’s darling after stunning top-10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva en route to the semis.
Her story, returning from a torn ACL suffered just before the 2024 tournament, inspired fans across France.
But Gauff, now just one win away from a second Grand Slam title, never allowed emotion to interfere.
She broke Boisson six times, striking cleanly and confidently to reach her third major final.
A Generational Final
Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs. Coco Gauff [2]
Saturday, June 7 – Roland Garros Final
It will be a battle of the top two seeds, a rare occurrence in today’s volatile women’s game.
Sabalenka holds a 4-3 head-to-head edge over Gauff, including wins in both of their Grand Slam meetings.
With Swiatek dethroned, the French Open will crown a new queen on Saturday, either Belarus’ powerhouse, Sabalenka, or America’s rising icon, Gauff.
