RG - Swiatek wins 1st semi final

Semi final day in Paris.

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Barbora Krejcikova who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Semi final 1:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v Daria Kasatkina (20)

Swiatek was Roland Garros champion in 2020, and made the quarters last year.

Before the final she had extended her match winning streak to 33.

Kasatkina’s previous best performances at a major were two quarter finals in 2018 - Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

She’d only been beyond the third round one other time - in the 2017 US Open.

Swiatek served first, and began with a double fault. She soon used her forehand to good effect, three winners helping her to a service hold.

Kasatkina started by successfully running down a drop shot and hitting a winner. Four loose shots then enabled Swiatek to grab a break chance, but a forehand winner from Kasatkina saved it.

An ace saved a second break point. A double fault gave Swiatek a third break opportunity - saved. A fourth break point was converted once Kasatkina netted a backhand. 2-0 Swiatek.

A double fault and some sloppy play from Swiatek presented Kasatkina with two break back points, and a forehand winner on the first of them confirmed the break.

Kasatkina saved a break point on the way to levelling at 2-2.

Errors from Kasatkina and winners from Swiatek saw a break of the Russian serve in game six and a 4-2 advantage for the top seed.

The break was easily consolidated in the following game.

Kasatkina was quickly down 0-40 when serving at 2-5 to stay in the set. With the first set point Swiatek hit a backhand return winner off a second serve to take the set 6-2.

Swiatek served first in set two, and held confidently. Kasatkina broke the stretch of five losing games and tied it at 1-1.

Swiatek broke Kasatkina in the fourth game, two backhand winners the highlight. 3-1.

Serving at 1-4, Kasatkina hit a forehand wide then donated a double fault. Backhand and forehand winners from Swiatek finished a love game and another break of the Kasatkina serve. 

Swiatek served at 5-1 for the match. After an unforced error from Kasatkina, Swiatek hit a backhand then a forehand winner to create three match points.

An ace ended the demolition. Iga Swiatek was into the final after winning 6-2 6-1.