The top-ranked tennis player in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, is getting ready to face off against Iga Swiatek, the three-time champion of the French Open. This semi-final match is going to be super exciting because both players are strong contenders for the title!
On Tuesday, Sabalenka had a nail-biting quarter-final match against Zheng Qinwen from China. It was a tough battle, but she managed to win with scores of 7-6 (7-3) and 6-3 on the windy Court Philippe Chatrier.
Meanwhile, Swiatek had a great match too, beating Elina Svitolina with scores of 6-1 and 7-5. This win sets up a thrilling match between her and Sabalenka!
Sabalenka took over the number one spot from Swiatek last October, and they have played against each other 12 times. Swiatek has won 8 of those matches, but they haven’t faced off in a major tournament since the 2022 US Open semi-finals. Swiatek has won four out of the last five French Open titles, while Sabalenka is hoping to grab her first trophy in Paris.
Swiatek knows that Sabalenka is a tough opponent. “Aryna has a game for every surface, so I need to focus on myself, do the work, be brave in my shots and just go for it,” she said. She’s ready for a challenging match!
Even though Swiatek has been the queen of the French Open lately, Sabalenka is the one to watch this time. She has already won three titles this year, including one on clay in Madrid, and she’s determined to make up for her loss in the Australian Open final.
Zheng had some hope going into her match with Sabalenka, especially after beating her in Rome earlier this year. But in this match, Zheng made too many mistakes, with 31 unforced errors compared to Sabalenka’s 18.
Sabalenka didn’t let the wind bother her too much. After falling behind early in the first set, she fought back to tie it at 4-4. She dominated the tie-break and kept her cool in the second set, eventually winning the match. “That was a true battle – I have no idea how I was able to get back into that first set,” Sabalenka said. “I was ready to leave everything I have on court to win.”
Swiatek had some ups and downs leading up to the French Open, but she found her rhythm just in time. Her win over Elena Rybakina in the fourth round gave her a big boost of confidence.
In her match against Svitolina, Swiatek started strong, saving break points and winning five games in a row. Even when Svitolina took an early lead in the second set, Swiatek quickly broke back and took control of the match. “I wanted to be proactive and really lead in the game, so I’m happy I did that,” Swiatek said.
With both players showing their skills and determination, the upcoming semi-final match between Sabalenka and Swiatek is sure to be a thrilling showdown! Who do you think will come out on top?