Where Swiatek v Sabalenka showdown will be decided

When nan French Open tie was made a fortnight ago, it was nan imaginable women's lucifer that everyone wanted to see.

Iga Swiatek - nan reigning champion known arsenic nan 'Queen of Clay' - against world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka successful nan semi-finals.

The brace person dominated nan WTA Tour complete nan past 3 years, starring to an era-defining rivalry that resumes erstwhile they meet successful nan past 4 astatine Roland Garros connected Thursday.

"It is nan blockbuster of nan full tourney connected nan women's side," said erstwhile world number 9 Andrea Petkovic, who will beryllium analysing nan lucifer for BBC Radio 5 Live.

Poland's Swiatek, seeded fifth, is bidding for a 4th consecutive title while Belarusian rival Sabalenka is seeking to snatch nan crown for nan first time.

They person ne'er played each different astatine nan clay-court Grand Slam and it will beryllium nan first clip they person met competitively since nan Cincinnati Open past August.

Swiatek, 23, leads their head-to-head record, pinch 8 wins from 12 matches, including 5 of six meetings connected clay.

But pinch questions still lingering complete nan four-time champion's game, tin 27-year-old Sabalenka extremity her rival's formidable record?

Coming into Roland Garros, it was clear to spot Swiatek's reign was nether threat.

The erstwhile world number 1 has dropped to her lowest ranking since 2022, having not reached a tour-level last since claiming past year's French Open.

It was nan first clip she arrived astatine Roland Garros without winning a title successful nan clay-court plaything since her maiden triumph successful 2020.

After a humbling conclusion by Danielle Collins successful nan Italian Open 3rd round, Swiatek insisted her erstwhile grounds successful Paris would count for nothing.

But she has improved lucifer by match, and nan mode pinch which she fought backmost from a group down against Elena Rybakina successful nan past 16 felt for illustration a renaissance moment.

"Before nan tourney started I put Iga arsenic 3rd favourite - aft Aryna and Coco," said Petkovic.

"But I changed my sentiment aft I saw her lucifer against Rybakina. I saw nan aged intelligence spot of Iga successful nan astir important moments."

While it feels for illustration Swiatek is still short of her very champion level, nan vexation she showed earlier successful nan clay-court plaything has seldom been evident.

She has regained much spot successful her damaging top-spin forehand, taking it much regularly from nan centre of nan court.

"Against nan champion movers successful nan world, you won't deed arsenic galore winners connected nan backhand, nary matter really bully it is - truthful you person to backmost your forehand," said Petkovic.

"Her forehand is nan biggest limb connected nan clay courts because it has much spin, much separator and tin really jump retired of nan onslaught area of Sabalenka."

Stepping backmost successful her returning position - for illustration she did against Rybakina - whitethorn besides beryllium a cardinal maneuver against different large server.

"Swiatek ever returns from nan aforesaid position each azygous time, nary matter who is serving. That useful good against players who don't service well," Petkovic added.

"But against nan Rybakinas - and nan Sabalenkas - this is simply a vulnerable thing.

"If you don't spot nan shot early capable you will beryllium nether unit correct away."

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka replaced Swiatek astatine nan apical of nan rankings past twelvemonth and has opened a commanding lead complete her rivals this season.

With 39 wins from 45 matches, her powerful style transcends each surfaces and is backed up by an unparalleled consistency.

Sabalenka, who has won 3 WTA titles this year, is nan first subordinate to scope nan quarter-finals astatine 10 consecutive Grand Slams since American awesome Serena Williams betwixt 2014 and 2017.

To scope her first French Open final, she will person to find a measurement to extremity Swiatek's 26-match winning streak connected nan Paris clay.

"The astir important point for Aryna - against anybody successful nan world - is whether she tin power nan first 2 to 3 shots. That's wherever she makes nan difference," said Petkovic.

"It doesn't mean she has to triumph nan constituent successful nan first 2 aliases 3 shots, but she has to beryllium capable to summation control.

"If she is capable to do that, I deliberation it will beryllium very difficult for Iga to win."

Sabalenka, whose besides reached nan 2023 semi-finals, is becoming much than conscionable a shot crusher arsenic she looks to germinate her game.

She is playing pinch expanding assortment and has utilized nan drop-shot efficaciously successful Paris, though nan velocity of Swiatek whitethorn beryllium capable to neutralise that option.

"I'm going to play pinch my power, because this is thing wherever I consciousness nan astir comfortable," said Sabalenka.

"But erstwhile you put nan different subordinate connected nan backmost foot, it's really important to operation it up small spot conscionable truthful they conjecture each time."

To paraphrase an aged saying, Swiatek and Sabalenka look to person decided it is amended to support your rivals moreover person than your friends.

The brace practised together successful nan off-season and shared a tribunal again astatine Roland Garros earlier nan tourney started.

Swiatek played down nan value of nan session, which took spot arsenic she looked to rediscover her game.

"It's awesome ever to believe pinch Aryna. She gives a awesome hit and nan believe will person quality," said Swiatek, who has dropped conscionable 1 group successful nan tourney truthful far.

"But, honestly, it was 2 weeks ago. It was nan first points that I played aft Rome. I deliberation a batch has changed since then."

Swiatek believes nan rivalry is "pushing" some players to greater heights, while Sabalenka says they person besides bonded much distant from nan court.

On nan look of it, nan brace person small successful common. Swiatek is nan bookish introvert, Sabalenka is nan Tiger-monikered extrovert.

Doing a TikTok video together astatine past year's WTA Finals has helped forge what Sabalenka described arsenic a "better relationship".

But, connected Thursday, it will beryllium strictly business.

"I emotion these challenges. I americium ever excited to look personification beardown who tin situation me," said Sabalenka.

"I spell retired location and I fight, and I'm fresh to time off everything I person to get nan win."