“I’m kind of surprised because I never would have thought before the tournament that I would play so good here but on the other hand, I always knew that if I’m going to be in the final of a grand slam it’s going to be at the French Open,” Swiatek, who won the French Open junior doubles crown and made the semifinals in 2018, said on court in a post-match interview.
“So I’m really happy. It’s like a dream come true.”
For now, she doesn’t want to think that far ahead.
“I’m just happy I’m in the final,” said Swiatek, also still in contention in doubles. “I don’t care what’s gong to happen. It’s just overwhelming for me.”
Swiatek hasn’t dropped a set yet and has only conceded 23 games — an average of fewer than four per outing.
While her last two opponents might have been ranked outside the top 100, they were certainly in form.
After thumping a service winner on match point, the world No. 54 turned to look at her box with an expression that suggested, “what’s happening?”
It brought back memories of Bianca Andreescu’s celebrations during her breakout US Open last year.
Swiatek, for the most part, just hasn’t let her opponents breathe during the fortnight. In five of her six victories, she has led by a break at the first sit down.
Against Podoroska, she was up 3-0.
But credit the qualifier for almost coming back in the opener. The Argentinean held a break point to pull to 2-3 but was halted by Swiatek, who hit 23 winners despite the cool, windy conditions and won nearly 70 percent of her service points.
Despite the defeat, it was a career-changing tournament, too, for Podoroska.
At 131st, she was the lowest-ranked woman to make the semifinals at the French Open and was a win away from becoming the first qualifier to make a grand slam final.
She also gave Argentina two semifinalists at the French Open, along with Diego Schwartzman in the men’s draw.