The French Open is now into the business end of the tournament with the women’s semi-finals just a day away.
Fans have been treated to thrilling and competitive tennis at the clay court Grand Slam since the tournament commenced.
Some of the usual big names reached the quarter-finals, in addition to a teenage wonderkid and a surprise player that nobody predicted would reach this far in the tournament.
Two French Open quarter-finals have already been completed and therefore the first semi-final has been set, and it is a blockbuster matchup.
Roger Federer’s former coach thinks Iga Swiatek will beat Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open
Aryna Sabalenka has looked relatively comfortable at the French Open so far.
She has yet to drop a set and is completely focused on trying to win her fourth Grand Slam and a first in Paris.
But standing in her way is three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek, who struggled coming into the tournament but has started to find her groove in Paris.
Given her record at the French Open and her resilience on court, Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone predicts that the Pole will triumph and reach her fourth successive French Open final.
“Before the tournament I thought this was going to be a Coco Gauff and Sabalenka story. Now after watching Sabalenka get through the draw as she has and I have also watched Iga try and deal with some of this adversity, Iga has won me over,” he told Tennis Channel.
“She is so comfortable here, she has won so much. I just think at crunch time I trust her a little more than Sabalenka on clay. If Sabalenka can somehow win comprehensively that’s great, but if it’s close I am going with Iga Swiatek.”
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set for first French Open meeting
Swiatek and Sabalenka have played on 12 previous occasions and just once at a Grand Slam.
That came at the 2022 US Open, which Swiatek came from behind to win in three sets before going on to claim the title.
The pair are now set for their first meeting at the French Open, a tournament where Swiatek has not tasted defeat since 2021.
Should Sabalenka emerge victorious, she would reach her first final on the Parisian clay, where she can compete for her first major away from clay.
If Swiatek were to advance to the final, she would have a chance to become the first woman to win the French Open four times in a row.
