French Open: Four-time champion Iga Swiatek to tackle Aryna Sabalenka in semi-finals

Iga Swiatek stayed on target to win her fourth consecutive French Open identify after achieving the semi-finals, the place she’s going to meet outdated adversary Aryna Sabalenka.

Swiatek earned her 26th victory in a row at Roland Garros after a 6-1 7-5 triumph towards No 13 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

World No 1 Sabalenka is taking part in her 41st week on the best of the ratings and ousted reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 of their quarter-final.

Swiatek, who has spent 125 weeks at global No 1, will now face the present global No 1 within the last 4 on Thursday.

“I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set,” Swiatek stated in a post-match interview. “When I noticed my depth move low I were given it prime once more. I’m satisfied I did it on the finish of the set.

“Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season.”

“I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge,” she added.

Sabalenka, taking a look so as to add a Roland Garros to her two Australian and one US Open crowns, received a hard-fought, close to two-hour contest.

Zheng, the 8th seed from China, used to be the final lady to win a identify right here having claimed Olympic gold in August.

She went a get a divorce within the first set and gave Sabalenka her largest check of the event to this point, however used to be not able to stop her from making the final 4 for the second one time in 3 years.

The 27-year-old stated: “That was a true battle. Honestly I have no idea how I was able to break her back and get back in the first set.

“I used to be simply looking to struggle and I used to be simply looking to put as many balls as I may just again in. I did not get started smartly however I’m in point of fact satisfied I discovered my rhythm and received this tournament. It used to be a difficult one.”

Zheng had defeated Sabalenka in Rome last month, but that probably did the Belarusian a favour.

“I’ve to mention that within the final event I used to be lovely exhausted,” she added.

“Honestly, I used to be in fact satisfied that I misplaced that tournament as a result of I wanted a little bit ruin sooner than Roland Garros.

“I was just more fresh today and I was ready to battle, to fight and to leave everything that I have on court to get this win.”

Swiatek, who authorized a one-month doping ban overdue final 12 months, is taking a look to transform the primary lady within the skilled generation since 1968 to win 4 consecutive titles in Paris.

She leads the entire head-to-head 8-4 towards Sabalenka, and the clay-court head-to-head 5-1.

Sabalenka, despite the fact that, beat Swiatek 6-3 6-3 of their most up-to-date assembly, at the difficult courts of Cincinnati final 12 months.

This shall be their first-ever assembly at Roland Garros.

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