French Open title would mean everything for Aryna Sabalenka

PARIS - Aryna Sabalenka said winning a first French Open title would “mean everything” after she knocked out three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals on June 5.

The world number one snapped Swiatek’s French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7/1),4-6, 6-0 success and will face second seed Coco Gauff on June 7 for the title.

Sabalenka is targeting a fourth Grand Slam title and first not on hard courts, after winning last year’s US Open and the Australian Open back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

“It’s going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like my whole life I’ve been told it (clay) is not my thing and then I didn’t have any confidence,” the Belarusian told reporters.

“In the past I don’t know how many years, we’ve been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay.

“If I’ll be able to get this trophy, it’s just going to mean the world for us.”

Sabalenka edged a topsy-turvy first set that featured eight breaks of serve in a tie-break, before Swiatek hit back to level the match.

The finale turned out to be a complete anti-climax, as Swiatek made 12 unforced errors in the third set and won only six points.

“The way the third set went, it was actually shocking for me, to be honest,” admitted Sabalenka.

Swiatek has still not reached a WTA final since lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen 12 months ago.

She showed signs of a revival on the Paris clay where she has dominated since lifting the title as a teenager in 2020, but her game deserted her in the deciding set as she fell to only the