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Iga Swiatek prepared for Karolina Muchova puzzle in Paris final
The odds may be in Iga Swiatek’s favour to land a third French Open title in four years but when she walks on court in today’s final she will be facing an underdog with a penchant for taking down those at the top.
Enter Karolina Muchova. In five meetings with top three ranked players – including Thursday’s semi-final against world number two Aryna Sabalenka – the Czech has won them all.
But while a Grand Slam final is a different beast altogether, Muchova’s variety on court will pose a puzzle that top seed Swiatek must piece together in order to retain her title.
She has tried and failed before, Muchova coming out on top in three sets in their only previous meeting in Prague back in 2019, but the Pole has been doing her homework.
“I feel I know Karolina’s game anyway because I played many practices with her since 2019 and I also watch her more than most of the players,” Swiatek, 22, said. I really like her game. I really respect her and she’s a player who can do anything. She has great touch. She can also speed up the game. “She plays with that kind of freedom in her movements and she has a great technique. I feel like I know her game pretty well.”
At 43 in the world rankings, Muchova is the fourth-lowest ranked player to reach the women’s singles final at Roland Garros but is no stranger to the later stages of Grand Slams, having reached the quarter-finals at every major except the US Open, and the semi-finals in Australia in 2021. Injuries have stalled the 26-year-old’s progress – she was told just last year her career may be ove. – but she says it is a “dream” to be in to her first Slam final.
Of her playing style, which favours tactical nous over sheer power, she said: “I don’t really want to be like anyone else.
“It’s the type of game I enjoy and believe in. We are trying to improve it with the team. Now we can see that it works, so that’s nice. I’ll keep it this way.”
When Swiatek and Muchova last played four years ago, Swiatek was a qualifier and her opponent a wildcard. The following year, the unseeded Pole won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open without dropping a set. Now set for a 64th week as world number one she has only ever lost twice on the Roland Garros clay, and is the youngest woman to reach three French Open finals since Monica Seles.
Swiatek is still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year but, despite her dominance in Paris, she has dismissed talks of starting her own legacy at the tournament like her idol, 14-time men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal. “I’m more of a person who just tries to do her best every day and hope for the best,” she said. “What Nadal did and what he’s still doing, it’s pretty amazing. “I don’t know if it’s going to be possible for me. But I just try to compete, keep it cool year by year and just do everything step by step.”
On how she has improved since her first French Open win, she added: “I feel like I’m a better player. Improvement I feel is everywhere. “Everywhere, like tennis-wise, mentally, tactically, physically, just having the experience, everything. My whole life basically.”
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
Latest News
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
Justice Corea appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal
Protest against setting up of cement factory in highly populated area near BIA
India funding 13 new bridges, Moragahakanda structure receiving priority
Cross-border supply chains seen as key to new business opportunities
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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