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'I was trying to just go for it,' Iga Swiatek reveals what clicked for her during the final moments of her epic match against Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open Final

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Achintya A A | Last updated 5/5/24

In one of the most thrilling matches of the year, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka went toe to toe until the Pole ace managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In the third and final set, Sabalenka seemed to be on top, having given herself three championship points on different occasions.

In all these moments, Swiatek held strong and played inspired tennis to save all the championship points and secure her own at 8-7 in the tiebreak. Sabalenka failed to do what her opponent had done during the final moments of the game and Swiatek fell to the ground, hands on her face, as she won her first Madrid Open title.

In an interview with Sky Sports immediately after the match, the World No. 1 was asked what she thought she did differently to save all those match points.

It's just one of the hundreds of points you've played. I was trying to focus on technical stuff and just go for it. Iga Swiatek said

This shows the mentality of champions who do not let the pressure of the situation get to them. The method of treating every point the same way paid off for Swiatek in the end, allowing her to play more freely and just go for it, in her own words.

Iga’s interview to SKY SPORT after wining Madrid Open 2024 pic.twitter.com/O0Izryvfxj
— Mark (@tomgreattom) May 4, 2024

Much is to be expected from the Polish World No. 1 as she has displayed this level of resilience time and again, especially in this tournament where she had closer matches than she would have anticipated. Her eyes will be on securing a third consecutive French Open title as the tournament kicks off later this month.

Iga Swiatek aims to equal a record even Serena Williams couldn’t come close to

Last year, Iga Swiatek became the first woman to defend a French Open title since Justine Henin in 2007. In the last three decades, winning three consecutive French Open titles is a feat achieved by only two legendary women, Henin and Monica Seles.

If Swiatek defends her title in Paris for the second year in a row, she will be promptly adding herself to this elite list into which even Serena Williams, arguably one of the greatest players ever, could not make. In her vast career that spanned over two decades, Williams never won two French Open titles in a row, despite her three titles there.

Swiatek has already matched or surpassed many all-time greats’ records in Paris and is now in prime position to equal the most impressive record on the red clay at Roland Garros.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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