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Iga Swiatek plans to defend her bid for a fourth consecutive French Open title as she takes on world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling semi-final showdown on Thursday. The winner will earn a coveted spot in the Roland Garros final.
Meanwhile, home favourite Lois Boisson will face world number two Coco Gauff in the other women’s semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier, in what promises to be another intense contest.
AFP Sport looks ahead to the day’s marquee matches: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR, 1) vs Iga Swiatek (POL, 5)
This semi-final renews one of the most exciting rivalries in women’s tennis, their first meeting since last August’s Cincinnati tournament. Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion, holds an 8-4 edge over Sabalenka but enters the match after a challenging clay season without reaching a final before Roland Garros.
Swiatek boasts an impressive 26-match winning streak at the French Open and stands on the brink of making history as the first woman to win four consecutive Roland Garros titles since Suzanne Lenglen a century ago.
“I don’t know if she elevates my game,” Swiatek said of Sabalenka. “But for sure our rivalry pushes both of us. It’s not just tennis level; it’s about work ethic and professionalism.”
The pair practised together before the tournament and have built a friendly bond, sparked by a viral dance video they shared at last year’s WTA Finals. Sabalenka has only defeated Swiatek once on clay, in the 2023 Madrid Open final, but their 2024 Madrid final clash saw Swiatek save three championship points to win a dramatic deciding tie-break.
“We’ve had many great battles,” Sabalenka said after her quarter-final win over Zheng Qinwen. “I’m super excited to fight for the win.”
Both players have shown dominant form, with Sabalenka yet to drop a set and Swiatek recovering from a tough comeback against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round—a win she described as necessary.
Coco Gauff (USA, 2) vs Lois Boisson (FRA)
French wildcard Boisson, ranked 361st, has captured hearts with a fairytale run in her Grand Slam debut. The 22-year-old overcame a knee injury that ruled her out of last year’s tournament and stunned the tennis world by beating two top-10 players, including third-ranked Jessica Pegula and sixth-ranked Mirra Andreeva, to reach her first major semi-final.
“I think every kid dreams of winning a Slam, especially French players at Roland Garros,” Boisson said. “It’s a dream. I’m here to win it, not just to reach the semi-finals.”
Boisson overwhelmed Andreeva on the passionate Court Philippe Chatrier, where the Russian lost the last six games of their quarter-final.
Gauff, fresh from defeating Australian Open champion Madison Keys, has strategies to handle the intense home crowd support for Boisson. “I’ve either pretended the crowd is cheering for me or used the energy to stay focused,” she said.
