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Swiatek sets up Muchova showdown for French Open title
CGTN
Iga Swiatek in action during the French Open women's singles semifinal round in Paris, France, June 8, 2023. /CFP
Iga Swiatek in action during the French Open women's singles semifinal round in Paris, France, June 8, 2023. /CFP

Iga Swiatek in action during the French Open women's singles semifinal round in Paris, France, June 8, 2023. /CFP

World number one Iga Swiatek of Poland beat Brazilian 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) on Thursday to set up the French Open women's singles final with unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, who downed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5.

Defending champion Swiatek is chasing her third title at Roland Garros in four years after winning the clay-court Grand Slam in 2020 and 2022.

Sabalenka, who is currently ranked world number two, had her hope of ascending to the top spot for the first time in her career dashed. 

Haddad Maia broke Swiatek in the opening game, but the top seed soon took charge and stormed to victory. She won five of the next six games and broke Haddad Maia for a third time to close out the set.

Haddad Maia took an early lead 3-1 in the second set before Swiatek won the next three games and fended off three break points to lead 5-4. 

The resilient left-hander forced and led the decider before Swiatek first gained the upper hand at 7-6 and halted the run of the first Brazilian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since seven-time major winner Maria Bueno in 1968.

Meanwhile, Miyu Kato of Japan put her women's doubles disqualification behind her and captured the mixed doubles title with Tim Puetz from Germany.

(With input from Reuters)

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