Paris, June 5, 2025 – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek’s reign at Roland Garros with a stunning 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 semifinal victory on Thursday, advancing to her first-ever French Open final.
Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion and dominant force on clay, saw her 26-match Roland Garros winning streak snapped as Sabalenka delivered one of the most aggressive and focused performances of her career. The match lasted just over two hours and marked a dramatic shift in momentum across three intense sets.
The first set was a tightly contested battle, with both players trading heavy groundstrokes and long rallies. Sabalenka edged it out in the tiebreak 7-1, showcasing powerful returns and unrelenting baseline pressure. Swiatek, however, responded like a champion in the second set, regaining rhythm to take it 6-4.
But the decider was all Sabalenka. With fearless hitting and relentless energy, she completely dominated the third set, closing it out with a commanding 6-0 scoreline – a bagel few would have expected against Swiatek on her favorite surface.
This victory is not just a milestone for Sabalenka, who had never advanced past the semifinals in Paris before, but a statement that she’s ready to lead in the post-Swiatek clay court era.
Sabalenka will face American star Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final. Gauff secured her spot earlier with a win over French wildcard Loïs Boisson, setting up a thrilling clash between two of the sport’s brightest young talents.
For Sabalenka, it marks her seventh final appearance in 2025 and her 40th main-draw WTA match win this season. With confidence soaring and history in her sights, the Belarusian will now look to add a Roland Garros title to her growing legacy.
