Iga Swiatek extended her recent French Open dominance by defeating Karolina Muchova to win her third Roland Garros championship in four years.
The first seed was the overwhelming favorite to defeat the 43rd-ranked Muchova, but she had to dig deep to prevail 6-2 5-7 6-4.
Muchova, 26, of the Czech Republic, broke for 4-3 in the decisive, but Swiatek, 22, of Poland, closed strongly to win.
Swiatek, who has four Grand Slam titles to her name, is the first woman to defend the championship since Justine Henin in 2007.
Muchova, who was ordered by doctors last year to retire due to ailments, fought back from a set and 3-0 down to not only make a contest of what had been a one-sided match, but to move within two service holds of a first major title.
She did, however, lose in one of the cruelest ways possible by committing a double fault on Swiatek’s first match point.
Swiatek dropped her racket and sat on her haunches, falling into tears on the court before hugging Muchova as she approached the net.
Muchova sat in her chair, thinking what might have been as Swiatek raced up to the stands to celebrate with her squad, just as she did after winning a year earlier.
