****

Iga Świątek is beginning to mirror Rafael Nadal in terms of clay court dominance at the French Open. On Tuesday, she decisively defeated 13th-seeded Elina Svitolina in straight sets to secure her place in the French Open semifinal, a victory that marked a significant career milestone. With this win, Świątek has now amassed 40 career victories at Roland Garros.

Achieving 40 wins at Roland Garros in just 42 matches places Świątek in elite company. She is tied with 11-time major champion Björn Borg as the second-fastest player to reach this milestone, with only Nadal reaching it more swiftly in 41 matches, as reported by The Tennis Letter.

The triumph also extended Świątek's winning streak at the French Open to 26 consecutive matches, reinforcing her dominance on the Parisian clay. Although she has not secured a singles title this season and had slipped out of the top four players globally for the first time since February 2022, the French Open appears to be the perfect remedy for her recent setbacks.

Świątek's remarkable 95.2% winning percentage at Roland Garros stands as the highest in women's singles during the Open Era, according to the WTA. Despite this, her path to the final is far from assured; she will face a formidable challenge in the semifinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who has not lost a single set in the tournament thus far.

As the two top players prepare to clash on Thursday, tennis fans can anticipate a high-stakes battle that may further cement Świątek's burgeoning legacy at Roland Garros.