Iga Swiatek reaches first US Open final, will face fifth seed Ons Jabeur, in two hours
Iga Swiatek reached her first Grand Slam singles final and will try to become the first Canadian to win a singles title at a major.
Swiatek won her first top-level title in more than three years at the US Open last month, beating fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in three sets.
The 29-year-old Czech had lost in seven finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and last year’s US Open.
It was also her first title at a major following the 2018 Wimbledon final.
Swiatek now has one hour to win the title in Flushing Meadows.
“I think I did fantastic. I had a great week, a good rest week so I was really confident going into this tournament,” she said.
“I won the last time out and played so well here in New York. I think I have made the biggest step forward on my game.”
Swiatek, who did not defend her Wimbledon title from last year, has said in her book “The Most Spectacularly Beautiful Woman in the world” she was in awe of her opponent and said she had never felt more grateful for her victory in Flushing Meadows, in front of her family and friends, than this week.
Swiatek, who lost to Venus Williams in the final in 2017, has become the second woman in the Open era to win a major title after Serena Williams, who reached three Roland Garros finals in 1999, 2002 and 2011.
Last month was her first grand slam final since the 2014 US Open, when she defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets after being up 3-1 in the third set.
She said: “Before it was a little bit more emotional than this. The nerves were big, yeah, but I think for me, it’s great for me and I’m really happy. I’m really happy.”
She reached the final by beating Simona Halep in the French Open quarter-finals where she was the highest seed to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open era.
The Czech tennis player was unable to defend her Roland Garros title last year, losing to Williams in the final.
But this year, she’s won two matches on Centre Court for the first time in