WATCH: Iga Swiatek, overwhelmed with emotions, holds back tears during French Open trophy presentation as Polish national anthem rings out
Iga Swiatek won the 2024 French Open title after defeating Jasmine Paolini in the final. She was presented with her trophy by Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, following which the Polish national anthem was played. The World No. 1 held back tears as she was overwhelmed by emotions.
Swiatek was on a mission to win her third consecutive French Open title as she took to Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday, June 8. Paolini had a huge task to stop the Pole's 20-match win streak at Roland-Garros. The 12th seed, however, failed to do so as Swiatek defeated her 6-2, 6-1.
Paolini had no shortage of support as the crowd backed her when she broke the defending champion to lead 2-1 in the first set. The Pole wasted no time to break back and win a total of five games in a row to bag the first set.
In the second, Swiatek continued her streak and won five more games to lead 5-0. She was on the verge of a bagel but Paolini held serve to make it 5-1 before the Pole triumphed on Paris clay for the fourth time.
She fell to her knees as she earned the winning points. American tennis icons Navratilova and Evert presented the trophies to the finalists. Swiatek made her way onto a stage following which the Polish national anthem was played, and she held back tears as she was visibly emotional.
Iga Swiatek expresses her love for French Open following her win over Jasmine Paolini
Iga Swiatek expressed her love for the French Open during her victory speech after defeating Jasmine Paolini and said that she waits each year to come back to Paris.
"I love this place, I wait every year to come back here. I was almost out of the tournament this second round so thank you for cheering for me, has been a really emotional tournament," Swiatek said.
Swiatek became only the second woman to win the coveted clay treble (the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and the French Open) in one season after Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2013.
Moreover, after losing just 11 games in her run from the round of 16 to the title this year, she matches Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in losing the fewest games in the last four matches on her way to a Grand Slam title.
With a US Open title to her name and four French Open titles, Swiatek now owns five Grand Slams.