French Open women's singles final: Iga Swiatek beats Sofia Kenin – as it happened

That’s all from me today. Thanks all for following on the penultimate day of Roland Garros. The future is very bright for women’s tennis.

A reminder: this is 19 year-old Swiatek’s first ever tour level title. She just ended her speech by asking: “Should I say something else?” There are man more speeches to come.

This will be tough to swallow for 21 year-old Sofia Kenin, but she will eventually look back on an incredible year. She shocked the tennis world by winning her first slam at the Australian Open, then after a 5 month break during a pandemic she came back and reached another final two slams later. She will be here for a long time.

The Polish national anthem is being played for the first time at Roland Garros.

Here is our first report on Iga Swiatek’s big win.

Iga Swiatek’s route to her first slam title title:

Round one: d. [15] Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-2

Round two: d. Hsieh Su-Wei 6-1 6-4

Round three: d. Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-2

Round four: d. [1] Simona Halep 6-1 6-2

Quarter-final: d. Martina Trevisan 6-3 6-1

Semi-final: d. Nadia Podoroska

Final: d. [4] Sofia Kenin 6-4 6-1

28 games. Six 6-1 sets.

Iga Swiatek after her first slam title:

I don’t know what’s going on, so. I’m so happy. I’m so glad that my family is here finally. I don’t know, it’s so overwhelming for me. It’s crazy. Two years ago, I won junior Grand Slam and now I’m here. It feels like such a short time so I’m just overwhelmed, but thank you all for cheering. It was an amazing final.

Here is Kevin Mitchell’s men’s final preview.

Swiatek dropped 28 games in 7 matches. Incredible.

Iga Swiatek’s career earnings before this tournament: $1,106,808

Iga Swiatek’s earnings for two weeks of work: $1,900,000

An astounding, dominant two weeks ends with Swiatek handing her 6th opponent a 6-1 set. Swiatek showed a lot of fortitude to tough out the first set against a gritty Kenin, then when Kenin looked vulnerable she pounced. Swiatek is now the first Polish Grand Slam singles champion of all time.

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Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 *5-1 Sofia Kenin:

As bad as Kenin may be feeling, Swiatek is ensuring that this all feels so much worse. At 15-30, she connected with an excellent backhand down-the line, a winning forehand return and a crosscourt backhand winner in quick succession. Swiatek will serve for her first slam title.

Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 4-1* Sofia Kenin:

Suddenly, things are moving very fast. Swiatek opened with a drop shot, fired her first ace of the day and then on game point she showed some brilliant defence, chasing down a great Kenin return. Kenin sent her following forehand into the net.

This is moving very quickly now and Kenin does not look entirely comfortable.

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Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 *3-1 Sofia Kenin:

After the lengthy break, Swiatek came out of the blocks with the perfect mentality, firing from both groundstrokes. From 15-0, she crushed Backhand down-the-line winner and then a forehand winner in quick succession. Two loose errors followed from Kenin, who does seem to be bothered by her newly taped thigh.

On Alfie Hewett winning the wheelchair singles title today against Joachim Gerard.

Sofia Kenin is now having an off-court medical timeout for her left thigh, which was already taped. A big test for Swiatek’s focus here.

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Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 2-1* Sofia Kenin:

A quick, important hold to 15 for Swiatek after a run of four breaks since the end of the set. She closed it off with a service winner.

As noted earlier, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka became friends after their brilliant match in Toronto last August. It is not hard to figure out who she is rooting for here.

Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 *1-1 Sofia Kenin:

Astonishing work from Swiatek to immediately recover the break, finding two astonishing backhand down-the-line winners at 15-15 and then break point at 30-40 to break back.

There was a sloppy double fault from Kenin thrown in at 15-30, but otherwise it was just too good.

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Second set: Iga Swiatek 6-4 0-1* Sofia Kenin:

Kenin immediately breaks serve to open the second set, which shouldn’t really be a huge surprise. The American has come through four three setters so far and she always bounces back incredibly well. Swiatek should be careful.

This time, from 30-30, Swiatek missed a forehand. Kenin made Swiatek pay, nailing a forehand down the line return winner off a first serve to break.

For so much of this tournament, Swiatek has been on the front foot, dominating opponents who simply could not live with her. Since she cooled down today from 3-0, she has done a great job of adjusting and finding far more of a balance. Nobody plays their best tennis in every match and every situation. Winning these big matches is about adjusting to the moment and responding to adversity.

Swiatek has been happy to take a step back and see if Kenin can hit through her at some points, choosing her moments more wisely. The question today was whether she has the mental strength to see out the title. So far, so good.

At 15-0, Swiatek brutalised a second serve and at 15-15 Kenin’s forehand went wide. Swiatek landed a winning forehand return at 15-30, forcing two set points.

On her second set point, Swiatek soaked up a couple of brutal backhands from Kenin, throwing up a great defensive lob before Kenin finally sent a backhand wide.

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First set: Iga Swiatek 5-4* Sofia Kenin:

Kenin saves a set point to break back! Swiatek dumped a backhand into the net on her set point at 40-30 and Kenin pounced at deuce, cracking a backhand crosscourt and eventually forcing deuce. On break point, Kenin refused to let the opportunity go, crushing an incredible angled backhand return winner. Swiatek could only throw her racquet at the ball.

All credit to Kenin. So many players with her physical characteristics would wait for errors from Swiatek in the big moments. When under pressure, so often Kenin steps up and tries to take take control.

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First set: Iga Swiatek *5-3 Sofia Kenin:

What started as a shaky game from both ended up becoming the game of the match as Swiatek broke seve to lead 5-3. It came alive Kenin’s second game point at Ad-40. Swiatek saved it with moment of inspiration as she chased down a solid Kenin dropshot, then played a gorgeous drop volley

Kenin double faulted at deuce, but then on break point Kennin responded with an incredible point of her own, firing a surprise forehand cross-court after a 19 shot rally. Kenin saved a second break point shortly after with an unreturned serve.

The game swung back to another Kenin game point, which Swiatek responded to with two searing point-ending forehands.

On her third break point, refused to miss, chased everything down and forcing Kenin to hit through her. The American’s backhand fell into the net.

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First set: Iga Swiatek 4-3* Sofia Kenin:

A very good hold from Swiatek to survive an edgy service game, breaking the run of three games against her. After a double fault earlier in the game, Swiatek reached 30-30 with a delightful drop shot winner.

At 40-30, Swiatek dumped a backhand into the net on the first game point. Kenin saved a second with her own wicked dropshot straight off the Swiatek second serve. Swiatek finally secured the game with some excellent defence on her third game point, eventually forcing a forehand error from Kenin.

First set: Iga Swiatek *3-3 Sofia Kenin:

Swiatek’s forehand is starting to give away a few too many errors. She opened Kenin’s service game with two forehand return errors. At 30-15, Kenin found a great wide unreturned serve to create two game points. On the second, Swiatek sent a routine backhand down-the-line into the net.

An important game coming for Kenin, who hasn’t had many sequences as poor as this all tournament. She was down 1-4 to Su-Wei Hsieh in round two and also 1-3 to Martina Trevisan in the quarters. That’s all.

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First set: Iga Swiatek 3-2* Sofia Kenin:

Swiatek has come back down to earth here, throwing in two groundstroke errors and then a double fault on break point to give back the break. A poor game.

Kenin is finding some joy on Swiatek’s second serve, again swatting away a backhand return winner in this game. The double fault was probably a consequence of that pressure.

First set: Iga Swiatek *3-1 Sofia Kenin:

A very solid hold by Sofia Kenin to put herself on the scoreboard. She opened the game by throwing up her first loopy ball, which ended promisingly as Swiatek completely over hit a forehand off it. After some good serving, she ended the game by pinning Swiatek in her backhand corner and forcing an error. It will take a lot more than a fast start to worry Kenin.

First set: Iga Swiatek 3-0* Sofia Kenin:

Swiatek breezes through a hold to 15, closing off the game with a solid unreturned body serve. Kenin has tried to take control of points when she can, which she did by swatting away a backhand return winner at 40-0, but there have been so few opportunities so far.

This has not been too dissimilar to Swiatek’s start against Halep, except it is no longer a surprise to see her playing at this level.

First set: Iga Swiatek *2-0 Sofia Kenin:

Swiatek breaks with an astounding opening return game. First she swatted away Kenin’s slice with a forehand down the line winner. At 15-30, Swiatek nailed a backhand down-the-line winner after a great return. Then at 30-40, Swiatek unleashed on another backhand down-the-line.

On break point, Swiatek showed the other side of her game as she tracked down an excellent backhand down the line, then a decent drop shot before forcing an error with a wicked crosscourt forehand. This has been a flawless start. So much for nerves, eh?

First set: Iga Swiatek 1-0* Sofia Kenin:

A very composed start from Swiatek, who opens her first career slam final with a love hold, sealed with some big serving and then an easy crosscourt forehand winner on game point. Not bad.

The warm-up is over and Iga Swiatek will begin on serve.

Iga Swiatek’s career earnings before this tournament: $1,106,808.

Prize money for today’s winner: $1,900,000

Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek have arrived on-court and are warming up. Swiatek will serve first.

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A few things at stake:

• Iga Swiatek is attempting to become the first ever Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title. At No 54, she is the lowest ranked woman to reach the Roland Garros final since the rankings began in 1975. Swiatek will rise from No 54 to No 17 with a title.
• Sofia Kenin is trying to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win two slams in a season. She would be the first player aged 21 and under to do so since Serena Williams and Justine Henin both did so in 2003. She will reach No 3 with a title.

Q. I’d like to know, are you impressed by Swiatek who lost only 23 games and no set in 12 sets? It’s like Nadal in the men. Is that something in a way that is shocking you or does it impress you at all?

SOFIA KENIN: Of course, she’s playing some great tennis, having great results. Petra also has not lost a set here. I mean, that obviously doesn’t mean anything if I’m playing well. Like I said, she’s playing really well. She got to the final. She’s had some great wins. I’m sure she has a lot of confidence and is super excited for the final. I’m hoping that with my experience from Melbourne, it will help me for Saturday’s final.

Q. You’ve been so self-assured this tournament. Do you ever suffer from nerves on a tennis court?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I’m working with psychologist obviously, as I said in the other interviews. I’m dealing with my nerves pretty good. I feel like I’ve been so efficient and so focused for whole matches that I put a lot of pressure on my opponents. I’m not even nervous in second sets because I know it’s going to probably go my way. It’s going to be different in a final because I’m going to play much more experienced players. Yeah, I think it’s going to be tough match no matter who I’m going to play against. I will need to be on a different level, the higher level, even though I’m winning easily right now.

Q. About Daria, there are lots of players who have worked with sports psychologists at some point in their career. You did it early on in your career. What let you know this was going to be such an important part of your game and your development to have this mental person who is working and traveling with you, a different level of commitment than we see from most players?

IGA SWIATEK: That’s true. I mean, traveling, it was also new for me because when I worked with the other psychologists, they stayed in Warsaw. Basically that’s how Daria works. That’s her style of working. I’m really happy that she chose me to travel with because she has, like, many other players. She was also traveling with them, like with sailors or cyclists. So right now she’s focusing to me, and I’m really happy because she’s doing a great job. Actually, I don’t know how I made the decision when I was younger, but I always wanted to work with a psychologist because I had this belief that it’s like a big part of the game. But my parents, like, they weren’t as open to that as I was. Actually, I don’t know where that came from, to be honest (smiling).

Sofia Kenin’s essential match is, of course, the Australian Open final where she showed her mental strength with her incredible recovery in the third set from 2-2 0-40 down. Although she was the newbie at the beginning of the year, Kenin will be determined to make her experience and toughness count against a rookie today.

A must-watch Swiatek match is her wildly entertaining two set loss to Naomi Osaka in Toronto last August. After her 6-1 6-0 loss to Simona Halep at last year’s Roland Garros, it was her second match against a top 10 player and in it she proved to herself that her game worked against the very best. Both players had so much fun cracking outrageous winners and playing at such a high level that this match led to them becoming friends.

The big question mark today is how Swiatek will handle the occasion. We know that she can reduce so many quality players to being a spectator in this match, as she has done all week. However, it is really difficult to overstate her inexperience at all levels. This is just Swiatek’s 17th career WTA main draw and she has only ever reached one WTA final, which she lost last year in Lugano, Switzerland to No 89 Polona Hercog of Slovenia. Kenin, who will be looking to take advantage of all of that, will be just her fourth ever top 10 opponent.

In addition to that, Swiatek has been playing so well in Paris that only one player has won four games in a set against her. We also do not know how she will react if she is pushed by Kenin. There have been many first time slam finalists in recent years and normally they have played enough tennis for people to have a sense of how they will react to such an enormous moment in their lives. With Swiatek, we just have to wait and see.

Hello! Welcome to our coverage on day 14 of Roland Garros where we are finally down to just two matches. After 34 year-old Rafael Nadal and 33 year-old Novak Djokovic ensured that they will face of a record-extending 56th time on Sunday, today 19 year-old Iga Świątek and 21 year-old Sofia Kenin will contest their first ever meeting as professionals. A bit of a contrast there.

The pair’s route to this final could not have marked a greater contrast. Swiatek has demolished everybody in her path, starting with last year’s finalist Marketa Vondrousova in the first round. In the fourth round, she took things a step forward with a startling 6-1 6-2 win over top seed Simona Halep, who simply had no chance. Halep hit just two unforced errors in the first set - two! - yet she received a breadstick. Swiatek backed up that performance by handling two consecutive qualifiers with the loss of just seven games, demonstrating her ability to deal with the pressure of being the favourite.

Kenin has not had things so easily in Paris. She was pushed to three sets in four of her first five matches, but what was so impressive was how she took hold of those matches as her challenging opponents started to fly. The 3rd set scores in the fourth round and quarter-finals against Fiona Ferro and Danielle Collins are telling: 6-1 and 6-0. Against Petra Kvitova, she played one of the best matches of her career and produced her best tennis on the big points to win.

So, here we are. One of the most exciting attacking prospects in women’s tennis against an intelligent, resourceful and gutsy player who will make Swiatek’s life hell by constantly varying her strokes and rising to the big point. It will be fascinating to see which contrasting style wins.

Play is due to start at a little after 2pm BST.