Swiatek's Unmatched Consistency Ends at Roland-Garros
Watching Iga Swiatek dominate on the clay courts of the French Open almost started to feel like a foregone conclusion. This year, she stormed through her matches with the same cool confidence fans have come to expect, notching up a staggering 26 consecutive wins at Roland-Garros. Just for perspective, that’s second only to Chris Evert’s legendary 29-match streak on the same clay, a record that has stood untouched for decades. But even the most dominant runs eventually end. Swiatek’s bid for a fourth straight French Open title came to a halt in the semifinals, where Aryna Sabalenka managed to seize the moment and play some of her best tennis. Sabalenka’s upset killed Swiatek’s streak and threw the women’s draw wide open.
The result left the door open for Coco Gauff, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Gauff, still only in her early twenties, played fearless tennis and bested Sabalenka in the final to clinch her maiden French Open crown. Her win signaled not just a changing of the guard, but a sense that women’s tennis continues to deliver new stars and thrilling rivalries each season.
New Milestones and Surprise Runs
Swiatek barely took time to lick her wounds. She shifted her focus to grass and made headlines again at the Bad Homburg Open, where she reached her 300th WTA win—faster than anyone since Serena Williams. That kind of record is serious stuff. Swiatek achieved this in just 372 matches, proving how dominant she’s become since breaking onto the scene a few years ago. The historic win came against Victoria Azarenka, a seasoned champion herself, whom Swiatek dispatched in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
This French Open wasn’t short on drama or Cinderella stories either. French wildcard Loïs Boisson made a name for herself with a wild run to the semifinals—becoming the first Frenchwoman to get that far since 2011. The Paris crowd rallied behind her, packing the stands for every point. Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka rewrote the record books as well, becoming the oldest player to deliver a double bagel—a 6-0, 6-0 win—in a Grand Slam match. She's still showing the younger generation that experience counts for a lot.
The tournament also marked a farewell for two well-known names on the tour. Caroline Garcia, a former world number four, waved goodbye to her career in front of home fans. Sara Errani, who played the 2012 French Open final, stepped away from singles play after her campaign ended. These moments added a layer of emotion to the event, reminding everyone that tennis is about fresh faces but also appreciation for careers that helped shape the sport.
