Iga for a repeat of French Open win!

'COMPARISONS with her idol Rafael Nadal may be distinctly premature but Iga Swiatek can take another step towards establishing her own dynasty at Roland Garros with a third title today.

- ELEANOR CROOKS

The Pole has only suffered two defeats on the Parisian clay, winning her first title as an unseeded teenager in 2020 then reclaiming it last year.

Swiatek is yet to drop a set this year - although she was pushed hard in the semi-finals by Beatriz Haddad Maia - and will be a big favourite to beat Czech Karolina Muchova for what would be her fourth grand slam title overall.

"Rafa, what he did and what he's still doing, it's pretty amazing," said the 22-year-old.

"So it was totally out of my reach. And still he played so well so many years. I don't know if it's going to be possible for me. But I just try to compete, keep it cool year by year and just do everything step by step." At 43rd in the world, Muchova is the fourth-lowest-ranked woman to reach the final of the French Open, continuing a trend of unexpected slam contenders.