Roland-Garros : Iga Swiatek enters the finals, first Polish woman to do so in 81 years

Paris: Iga Swiatek scripted history as she became the first Polish woman in 81 years to reach the French Open finals on Thursday (October 8). She downed Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska by 6-2, 6-1.

She said it’s a dream that came true. “I’m kind of surprised, really. I never thought at the start I would play so good here but I always knew that if I was going to be in the final of a Grand Slam it would be at the French Open,” said Swiatek.

The 19-year-old will play the two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova or Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin on Saturday(October 10) for the title.

She is the second Polish woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open era after Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon in 2012. Swiatek became the seventh unseeded women’s finalist at Roland Garros.

“Basically I wanted to play this match as if it was the first round. I didn’t want to think I was in the semi-finals because it would stress me,” said Swiatek.

Speaking of the final match, Swiatek said, “It’s going to be a tough match, for sure,” added Swiatek, who has never faced Kvitova or Kenin.”

“I don’t want to think about it right now. I’m just happy to be in the final, it’s overwhelming for me.”