Iga Swiatek wins her third French Open singles title in four years, defeating Karolina Muchova

Iga Swiatek confirmed her status as the superstar of women’s tennis by claiming her third French Open title – but not before an almighty scare .

The world number one eventually forced her way past Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 6-2 5-7 6-4 in two hours and 46 minutes on another gloriously sunny day at Roland Garros. It witnessed an initially slow burning final which ultimately caught alight.

Swiatek finally asserted herself at 3-4 and a break down in a pulsating deciding set which veered in several directions before her late surge.

For the 22 year-old Pole it was a fourth Grand Slam title in all, but unlike other occasions this one did not come in straight sets. Nobody in the post-1968 Open Era of either sex had been as clinical in the first Major finals of their career, but the run ended at seven.

Swiatek did have a few stressful moments halfway through the first set, having raced to a 3-0 lead before she met with some resistance.

Iga Swiatek was overcome with emotion after sealing her third French Open title on Saturday

Opponent Karolina Muchova forced her way back level after trailing 3-0 in the second set

Muchova, the world number 43 who had knocked out second Aryna Sabalenka, is a strong athlete and has a pleasing variety in her game rich with slices and vaguely reminiscent of Ash Barty. It eventually caused some problems, but as she pressed hard to find a weakness the unforced error count soon totted up.

When more mistakes saw her go 2-0 down in the second a quick kill appeared in prospect. Then came a fightback which saw the Czech win five of the next six games, a reverse not experienced by the Pole this fortnight.

The quality of the match was undulating, but the crowd were delighted to see a fight being made of it. With Swiatek unable to take advantage of her opponent’s low first serve percentage, she still managed to break when Muchova served for the set for the first time.

Swiatek looked in control before being given an almighty scare by her Czech opponent

The unseeded Muchova will rise into the world’s top 20 after her run to the final in Paris 

At the second time of asking the Czech produced some superb net play to clinch a marathon twelfth game and take it into a decider.

That rolled over into a 2-0 lead with Swiatek looking extremely flustered. However, she then reverted to how she was playing in the first set, with her backhand regaining its usual penetration.

Muchova stemmed her revival by breaking for 4-3 but then played a poorly judged dropshot to be broken back for 4-4.

Her feet moving briskly, she held on for 5-4 and then clinched the last game through a double fault. Swiatek becomes the first woman since Monica Seles to win her first four Major finals.