Iga Swiatek took another stride towards a third successive French Open title on Tuesday as she swept into the semi-finals with a 6-0, 6-2 rout of Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
World number one Swiatek, bidding for a fourth Roland Garros crown in five years, will play US Open champion and third seed Coco Gauff for a place in Saturday’s final.
Swiatek improved her career record in Paris to 33-2 and is on course to become the first woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen three years in a row since Justine Henin did so from 2005-07.
“Honestly I think everything worked,” said the 23-year-old Swiatek.
“I feel like I’ve been serving better than in previous rounds and that gave me an extra boost of confidence.”
“Today it was pretty straightforward. I’m happy I kept my focus. I felt like I was in the zone today,” added the Pole.
Gauff has come up short against Swiatek in four attempts on clay and was beaten by the top seed on her way to the title in Rome last month.
“You don’t want to change your routines. Not to put too much baggage on your shoulders, just treat it like any other match and not something huge,” said Swiatek.
“Against Coco it’s not easy, she really likes playing on clay especially here, I think so I’ll just focus on myself.”
Gauff passed her toughest test of the fortnight as she fought back from a set down to beat three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The 20-year-old Gauff is set for a third straight Grand Slam semi-final, after also making the last four at the Australian Open.
Tunisian eighth seed Jabeur is still waiting for a maiden major title, having lost three finals and four quarter-finals.
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