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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.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (20) paid his last respects to the remains of Most Venerable Kappetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera, Anunayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, who passed away.
The President visited the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, where the remains of the Thera are lying, and paid his last respects. He subsequently expressed his deepest condolences to the Maha Sangha and the temple’s Dayaka Sabha, who are mourning the passing of the Thera.
Central Province Governor and Consultant Physician Dr Harsha Suranga Fernando, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta and several others were present.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
India opener Shafali Verma has received an official reprimand and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Shafali, an ICC release said, breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”
It was Shafali’s first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 12th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when Shafali threw the ball into the ground in frustration after dropping a chance at mid-off offered by Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano off Sree Charani.
Shafali admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee GS Lakshmi, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
India currently lead the three-match series 2-0 with the third game to be played on Tuesday evening. The T20Is will be followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23.
(Cricinfo)
A total of 146 players will be competing for 27 available slots in the WPL 2027 mini auction on October 28 in Kochi. Of these, England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the only two players who have listed themselves at the maximum base price of INR 50 lakh.
The auction pool has 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped players, with 20 slots available for Indian players. The overseas pool has 27 players – 14 capped and 13 uncapped – including six from Associate teams, with seven slots available.
G Kamalini (released by Mumbai Indians), Kiran Navigre (released by U P Warriorz), Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen have registered at the second-highest base price of INR 40 lakh, while a total of 30 players have registered at INR 30 lakh.
Among the notable absentees are West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was released by UPW, and Australia legspinner Alana King, who was released by Delhi Capitals. Lizelle Lee, who was DC’s highest run-scorer last season, has also not listed herself after being released by the franchise.
What the teams look like going into the auction
Only two English players – Dunkley and Kira Chathli (INR 10 lakh) – have registered for the auction, with several others, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith opting to skip the WPL next year.
Cricinfo has learned that England are likely to play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in early February, which will clash with the final week of the WPL. While the ECB is likely to allow players to stay in India to complete the tournament, most players have instead chosen to prioritise their international commitments ahead of the Champions Trophy later that month.
The relatively low salaries on offer at the WPL are also understood to be a factor in many English players deciding not to register, with most internationals earning significantly more to play in the Hundred (up to £190,000 last year) than the highest permitted base price in the WPL of INR 50 lakh (£40,000 approx).
Molineux was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] title-winning squad in 2024, and had bagged 12 wickets in ten games at an economy rate of 7.31. She was retained by RCB for the 2025 season but a knee injury ruled her out of the season. Dunkley, meanwhile, played for Gujarat Giants [GT] in 2023 before opting not to register for the 2024 season. She went unsold in the 2025 auction.
Among the premier internationals who have listed themselves for INR 30 lakh are Australia allrounder Grace Harris (released by RCB), Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon.
UPW, who released nine players, will go into the auction with the biggest purse of INR 3.75 crore.
[Cricinfo]
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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