The final picture, which the tennis fans of this world were expecting just as much as the photographers on the Philippe-Chatrier court, was also received by everyone: Iga Swiatek, standing on the court on the provisional ramp, smiles and the coupe Suzanne Lenglen something untrained kisses.

Anyone could have rummaged through the archive or memory for such a photo motif, since the Pole had already won the most important clay court tournament in Paris two years ago.

Thomas Klemm

sports editor.

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But in 2020 Swiatek was happy as a 19-year-old surprise winner who couldn't believe what she had accomplished.

On Saturday she first dropped to her knees after the converted match point, then after the 6: 1 and 6: 3 in the final against the American Coca Gauff she smiled happily like a champion who had done the job to his complete satisfaction.

"The pressure was high," said Swiatek, whose winning speech was interrupted by a thunderstorm under the closed roof.

What old star Gary Lineker once said about football and the German national team applies in a similar way to women's tennis: Roland Garros is when 128 women run after a yellow felt ball and in the end Iga Swiatek wins.

When the Polish national anthem was played, the world number one's eyes got wet.

"She absolutely deserves the success," said Coco Gauff: "Hopefully we meet again in other finals."

The 18-year-old Gauff fought back with all her might in her first grand final after overcoming her initial nervousness.

In the very first game, the American made four mistakes, including a double fault, and lost her service to make it 0-1.

The direction seemed set early on and indeed, even when the rallies got longer and a little more competitive, Swiatek mostly got the better of it.

Most of the time, she scored points with her powerful forehand, sometimes hitting it along the line, sometimes across the field, but again and again with the backhand.

The first round was over after 32 minutes, for Gauff it was also the first set loss of the two tournament weeks in Paris.

In the second round you could tell that the American was more ready for a grand final.

Her shots became safer, her game a little more variable, and because Swiatek made one or two mistakes, it was suddenly 2-0 to Gauff.

But as it quickly turned out, it was no more than an intermediate high over Paris.

As had been the case for months, Swiatek just didn't want to let up on Pentecost Saturday and mercilessly placed her winning shots.

After 68 minutes of play, she immediately converted her first match point.

For the 15,000 spectators it was a brief pleasure.

After all, this left plenty of time to eat a portion of fries for seven euros or to sip a glass of wine for 16 euros at the Roland Garros facility.

Iga Swiatek was able to toast to himself with champagne - and in more ways than one.

With the 42nd success in the 45th match of the season and the sixth tournament victory in a row, the world number one not only confirmed their supremacy in women's tennis, but also ended the longest winning streak since the turn of the millennium.

By winning her 35th match in a row, she drew level with the American Venus Williams, who was so successful in 2000.

Only eight of the very best in their sport can boast even longer streaks of success, including Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams.

But Swiatek, who only turned 21 last Tuesday, still has a good part of her career ahead of her.

Next she has to prove herself in the grass season, culminating in Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff can also take comfort in the fact that there are likely to be many more chances to win big titles.

In Paris, she was the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Maria Sharapova in 2004. The Russian not only won there, but also triumphed in Melbourne, New York and Paris.

Maybe Gauff can even call himself the Roland Garros winner this Sunday.

With her compatriot Jessica Pegula she is in the final of the doubles competition, where she meets the French Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia.