Iga Swiatek reaches first US Open final, will face fifth seed Ons Jabeur
Swiatek was just two up with a pair of aces when the last-day drama began, but a second straight-set victory was within grasp when she blasted a forehand into the net for an ace with one second left in the semis.
Swiatek, who made history as the first Polish woman to win a major, then sealed a first major title after moving past a century-old record of the last Polish woman to win a Grand Slam title, will close out her career Saturday in the US Open final against 22nd seed No. 1 seed Jabeur.
“It was a perfect match,” she said. “I played well throughout the tournament. That’s what’s special. It was a great match.
“I can’t really pinpoint a specific opponent or a specific moment, but I started the match well and really felt like I was the best player on the day, so that was pretty much all it was. It was just an excellent performance.”
On Monday, a day after a second-round exit in Montreal — making Swiatek the first woman since Jennifer Capriati to lose in the first round of a major in 20 years — she was on the same plane as World Cup team captain Laura Siegemund.
Swiatek had to ask Siegemund — who retired after an injury-plagued 2006 season to be the first woman to win two Women’s Grand Slam singles titles — if she could join her on the flight to Miami after the second-round loss. That was the only time she has flown with another WTA player in the first eight years of her career.
On Tuesday, she reached the final after breaking the record for women’s matches played against no. 1 seeds.
And on Wednesday she will head to the United States Open for her first final at a major since losing to Serena Williams in the 2011 semifinals.
“It’s