Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Muchova to win French Open women’s final – as it happened

Well thank you so much for joining for this incredible final. The first set looked as though Swiatek was going to swagger to another straight sets win but Muchova came alive in the second to push her all the way. It’s a famous epic that will go down in history, if you want to catch up with the action have a read of the report below. We will be covering the men’s singles final live tomorrow, between Djokovic and Ruud, so make sure you tune into that. But for now have a great Saturday!

The moment that sealed Swiatek’s win:

Swiatek with her trophy:

Swiatek says: “Thank you guys! First of all congrats to Karolina, since we first played I know we were going to play tough matches. I was really struck with your variety on court, I know we are going to have many more finals. Congrats to your team as well. I wouldn’t be here without my team, thank you guys. I know we won this tournament but it isn’t easy. Thank you to my family as well, so many people have come from Poland I really feel the love. I know I have said this every year, It isn’t really about the performance I really love being here – it’s my favourite place on tour.”

Now it’s Swiatek’s time in the sun. A huge roar greets the winner as she waves at the crowd. She lifts the trophy, shakes it and the top comes off! She laughs and she was going to put it back on but she decides to celebrate more with it first. Swiatek is the first woman to defend the title for 16 years. The Polish national anthem ahead of her interview.

Muchova is now accepting her runners-up trophy, she gets an ovation and a roar of applause from the crowd. She pushed Swiatek all the way. She lifts the trophy aloft, getting slightly emotional and says: “I’ll try to keep it short as it is emotional. This is incredible, thank you everyone. It’s been amazing three weeks in Paris. This was so close but so far but this is what happens when you play the best. Iga I want to congratulate you once again and your team. I want to thank everyone behind the curtains as well. I would like to thank each one of you, thank you I think I wouldn’t be standing here if you didn’t push me in each match. I have never lived this and it is unbelievable. Last one to my team, my box. This is the hardest one. When I look at those people I feel like I am the winner so thank you.”

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Evert – who won 92% of her matches at the French Open - is out on court and images of her playing at the tournament are being shown on screen. The umpire gets her award for officiating this final.

The ground staff are now out on court to the applause of the players and the crowd. And now the trophy is out and being placed – Chris Evert will be giving the trophy to Swiatek. Evert won seven French Open titles during her career.

A montage of Swiatek’s French Open run is shown in court, the world number one watches on and smiles to herself. The presentation is beginning with the ball kids first out to an applause and then the line judges emerge.

The photographers gather, ready for the trophy celebration and interviews to come. I’m still collecting myself from that cracking match.

This slam title is the 22-year-old’s fourth of her career – three French Opens and one US Open.

Swiatek has gone up to her box to embrace them all after a huge battle. I can’t quite believe what we have just seen. Muchova won’t be in the top ten yet but watch this space – what a match she had.

Swiatek sunk to her knees and cries as she secures the title, Muchova embraces her and they have a small chat. These two have put on an epic final – one that will live in memories for a life time. This is the first French Open final she has won over three sets, the other two were straight set wins.

SWIATEK WINS EPIC! Here’s how the final game played out: Muchova forces the ball out and Swiatek is three points from the title. Make that two with another Muchova error putting her 30-0. A powerful serve see Swiatek unable to return but another error sees Swiatek on championship points and she has two of them. And a double fault gives her the title!

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Muchova must hold her serve, if she doesn’t Swiatek will win her third French Open title.

Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 5-4* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Swaitek pushes her shot long, surely we can’t have another break here?! I could not predict the winner of this one, I don’t think anyone could. Swiatek then hits the net and Muchova is 30-0 up. An expert forehand winner from Swiatek to get herself on the board – Muchova has had six games where she has been 30-0 up and none have gone to 40-0 – and Muchova has an unforced error to put it 30-30. Muchova has break point, this is a HUGE moment in this final. Huge! She can’t convert it and we head to deuce with Swiatek’s attack too much. Muchova hits the net twice for Swiatek to hold.

Swaitek breaks back! Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, *4-4 Muchova (*denotes next server)

This is such an important hold of serve – it gives Muchova two chances to see out the set (and the title). But she can’t hold as Swiatek is the one to win the first point with a forehand winner. And she gets another! Swiatek is even better when she is coming from behind, those are two strong points. Now “Iga” is being chanted. An unforced error gives Swiatek a break point but Muchova saves the first with a long shot from the net. And she saves another break point with an ace! This final is incredible!! We head to deuce and Swiatek gets the advantage with a backhand deft touch – her third break point. And she gets it with Muchova using the wrong shot.

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Swiatek shook her right hand after the double fault and her forehand is faltering a bit. Muchova is doing the most to try and exploit points from that.

Muchova breaks again! Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 3-4* Muchova (*denotes next server)

A massive rally ends with Swiatek hitting the net, that was a great bit of play from both athletes. A double fault gives Muchova a 30-0 lead and “Muchova” chants echo around the court. But she can’t capailise on the good start as she pushes her shot out but this time she gets her break point with a great drop shot! And there! She spots a weakness in her forehand and exploits it, another break. Peter has said: “Muchova plays in a way that Swiatek won’t meet often. Slice, drop shots, net attacks are not usual for top women players, especially not on clay. Muchova’s record against the best ranked players says that Swiatek isn’t alone in being bothered by it.” She has beaten the likes of Sabalenka and Barty.

Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, *3-3 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova races to a 30-0 lead but Swiatek smacks the ball past Muchova – what a shot. Two errors from Swiatek sees Muchova close to holding – a really important hold here, she can’t give Swiatek an inch. There it is! Jim has got in touch and said: “She [Swiatek] is scared of her opponents passing shots (she is very reluctant to
go to the net) and she is scared of her opponents volleys (she keeps
lobbing when it seems easier to pass). She needs to play more doubles.” Her game is definitely weaker when she is closer to the net.

A fun fact from Eurosport – Swiatek has won 53 matches and lost one match on clay when winning the first set. That only loss coming against Muchova.

Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 3-2* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Is the change of momentum coming again? Muchova’s shot has too much on it and a perfectly weighted shot from Swiatek puts her 30-0 up. The Polish player’s first ace of the match comes to put her a point away from holding. And an unforced error gives her it.

Swaitek breaks back! Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, *2-2 Muchova (*denotes next server)

That is delightful from Swiatek, she’s on the baseline and spliced a beautiful ball past Muchova. She goes 30-0 up as the ball clips the net – Swiatek apologises for the bounce of that. Muchova thought she had that point with a long shot but it is just out, Swiatek has break point. Muchova saves the first with a volley but she hits the net and Swiatek breaks.

Jam has got in touch and said: “She is letting the game slip through her fingers. Whats going wrong for her? No one can tell.” I think Muchova has just grown into this match, she played fantastic tennis to win the second set and Swiatek was a bit rocked by that in the opening of the third. That hold of serve will go far for her though, this final is far from over.

Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 1-2* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Swiatek’s first hold of serve since midway through the second set. Two succinct points for Swiatek puts her 30-0 up, she shakes her fist in celebration. But a lovely and calm point there from Muchova – Swiatek comes close to the net and Muchova hits it down the line. An unforced error put Swiatek a point away from holding and she gets it!

Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, *0-2 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Swiatek maybe a little rocked as the second set was the first she has dropped all of this year’s French Open. This game opens with a well-read point as Muchova comes forward to the net to take the ball away from Swaitek. The world number one is unable to return the serve and the momentum in this match has shifted. And two aces and Muchova holds.

Muchova breaks early in third set! Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 0-1* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Swiatek splices her return and it’s out and now she is shouting with frustration as another error comes into play. And that is a delicious shot form Muchova to give her break point – this would be her fourth break of Swiatek in a row. And a double fault gives her the break!

That moment was huge! Those points made Chris Evert just groan with how good the shots are, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The crowd loves it, I bet you all at home love it. This final gets the third set it deserves.

What a hold of serve to win this set! An unforced error puts Swiatek 15-0 up, it’s as though these players are better when they aren’t in the better position in this second set. A double fault sees the world number one 30-0, Muchova plays a good forehand to get herself on the board in this game and an ace levels it 30-30. An error from Swiatek gives Muchova set point but she falters and we are at deuce. She gets set point again though as she waits for Swiatek to move before placing the ball but Swiatek defends so well! We are back to deuce, she was like a dog with a bone there – determined to not let it slip. Incredible play! Both secure fantastic shots that looked out but Muchova comes away with an advantage – her third set point and she takes it! This final is going all the way.

Muchova’s third successive break! Swiatek 6-2, 5-6* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Swiatek re-directs the ball perfectly to force Muchova to hit the net but what a wonderous return from Muchova to level it 15-15. The Czech player goes 30-15 up, she couldn’t break Swiatek again could she? She may, she has break point as Swiatek hits the net. She does it! She will serve once more the second set.