CONFIDENCE SOARING, SWIATEK WHIPS GAUFF

Dominant Pole a step away from third straight title; Djokovic has op on right knee

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When Iga Swiatek escaped defeat and beat Japanese star Naomi Osaka in a thrilling second-round French Open match, she could not hide her emotions and cried uncontrollably.

Something in the world No. 1 changed from there onwards. The Pole knew she had to pick herself up, and battle her way through regardless of the difficulties she may face.

On June 6, the defending champion took a big step towards a third successive Roland Garros title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals, and stretch her winning streak in Paris to 20 matches.

Her career win-loss record at the French Open now stands at a staggering 34-2.

The four-time Grand Slam champion also extended her dominance over Gauff by sealing an 11th victory in 12 meetings and will head into the final on June 8 against Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini, who crushed 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-1.

"For sure something changed. I adjusted better to the court," said Swiatek, who has lost only 14 games in four matches since defeating Osaka. "It's not easy to play the first matches on a Grand Slam because the atmosphere is much different.