Unseeded Iga Swiatek created history on Saturday when she stunned No. 4 seed Sofia Kenin to win her maiden French Open women’s singles title. Swiatek thus became the first ever Polish to ever win a Grand Slam singles title.
Swiatek brushed aside Kenin, the Australian Open 2020 winner, in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-1.
Kenin was aiming to win her second Grand Slam title but struggled with a leg issue that required an off-court medical treatment after the third game of second set.
The 19-year-old is the lowest ranked woman player since 1975 to have won at Roland Garros.
“I’m so happy. I’m so happy my family was here finally. It was overwhelming for me,” the world number 54 Swiatek said after the match. “Two years ago I won a junior Grand Slam and now I’m here. It feels like such a short time. I’m just overwhelmed.”
“It’s crazy for me because I watched Rafael Nadal lift the trophy every year and now I’m in the same place,” she added.
She is also the fourth teenage in the Open Era to have won the French Open without dropping a set after Evonne Goolagong (1971), Chris Evert (1974) and Steffi Graf (1988).
“I was just mentally consistent. I just wanted to play aggressive as in previous rounds. It was really stressful for me so kind of hard,” she said.
The 21-year-old Kenin termed it as a great game and congratulated her opponent for the title.
“I just want to congratulate Iga on a great tournament and a great match. You played really well,” said Kenin.