'Queen of clay' Swiatek v late bloomer Paolini - Paris final preview

"I deliberation it's excessively early."

That was nan consequence Iga Swiatek gave almost a fortnight agone erstwhile asked if she feels for illustration nan 'Queen of Clay'.

Although it is simply a play connected nan nickname fixed to Rafael Nadal, Swiatek is already pursuing successful nan footsteps of nan 14-time French Open men's champion.

A triumph against Jasmine Paolini successful nan last connected Saturday will return nan Pole to 4 titles astatine Roland Garros - nan aforesaid number Nadal held astatine nan aforesaid property of 23.

"We'll spot successful 14 years if nan travel is similar," Swiatek said.

"I'd ne'er expect anybody to comparison maine to Rafa because for maine he's supra everybody, and he's a full legend."

The four-time awesome victor is nan overwhelming favourite against precocious bloomer Paolini, who is making her Grand Slam last debut.

The 28-year-old Italian had ne'er made it past nan 2nd information of a awesome until January, erstwhile she reached nan 4th information of nan Australian Open.

Now she finds herself 1 triumph distant from Grand Slam glory and a £2m prize pot.

"I was watching nan different Italians make it successful nan finals and winning Grand Slams, but [to] ideate that tin beryllium myself was tough," said Paolini.

"I ne'er dreamed truthful big. Never."

The last takes spot from 14:00 BST successful Paris, pinch unrecorded commentary disposable connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and nan BBC Sport website and app.

Swiatek has enjoyed a stellar play connected nan reddish dirt, winning large WTA titles successful Madrid and Rome.

A 20th consecutive triumph connected nan aboveground connected Saturday would spot her go nan first subordinate since Serena Williams successful 2013 to triumph nan 'Triple Crown' - nan biggest 3 clay-court titles successful a azygous season.

"After nan tourney it usually hits maine what I achieved, but during it, I consciousness for illustration I conscionable request to play different match," said Swiatek.

The 23-year-old will subordinate further elite institution if she defends her title, becoming conscionable nan 3rd female successful nan Open era to triumph 3 Roland Garros titles successful a statement aft Justine Henin and Monica Seles.

Since redeeming a lucifer constituent against Naomi Osaka successful nan 2nd round, Swiatek has sailed done nan tournament, dropping conscionable 10 games successful her adjacent 4 matches.

Speaking astir her opponent, Paolini said: "Iga is an unbelievable player. So young, but truthful galore achievements and Grand Slams.

"She's doing good week by week and that's not easy. So I person immense respect for her but my extremity is to measurement onto nan tribunal connected Saturday and effort to bask nan match, bask that infinitesimal and effort to play a bully match."

The numbers, arsenic good arsenic experience, are each successful Swiatek's favour.

It has been a singular French Open tally for Tuscany-born Paolini, who made her WTA Tour debut successful 2015.

Before January, she had won a full of 4 matches successful 16 Grand Slam appearances.

The world number 15 has won 2 profession singles titles but is enjoying her astir productive twelvemonth successful 2024, announcing herself astatine Roland Garros by stunning erstwhile Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina successful nan quarter-finals and winning complete nan Paris crowds.

With compatriot Jannik Sinner besides reaching nan men's semi-finals astatine nan French Open, Paolini's tally meant Italians were successful nan past 4 of a awesome singles tourney for nan first clip successful nan Open era.

Paolinia has besides reached nan last of nan women's doubles alongside compatriot and 2012 French Open singles finalist Sara Errani. The brace will return connected American Coco Gauff and Czech Katerina Siniakova connected Sunday.

But sloppy of what happens connected Saturday, nan 12th seed will look successful nan apical 10 of nan WTA rankings for nan first clip erstwhile they are released connected Monday, moving up to 5th if she thumps Swiatek aliases seventh if she does not.

As Swiatek goes for her 3rd successive French Open title, Paolini will effort to emulate compatriot Francesca Schiavone - nan only Italian female to triumph nan French Open (2010).

"We played a agelong clip ago, truthful I request to hole tactically and spot what her crippled is astatine now," Swiatek added.

"She has nan champion season, truthful she must person changed something.