Aryna Sabalenka halts Iga Swiatek's run to reach French final

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek's run of dominance at the French Open, denying the latter's bid for a fourth straight title at Roland Garros on Thursday.

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka snapped the fifth-seeded Poland native's 26-match French Open winning streak with a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 decision in Paris.

The 27-year-old from Belarus dispatched Swiatek in 2 hours and 19 minutes to become the first woman to reach the singles final in three consecutive Grand Slam events since Serena Williams (2016).

Sabalenka will look to win her first French Open title on Saturday. She will meet the winner of Thursday's other semifinal match pitting second-seeded Coco Gauff against 361st-ranked French wild-card Lois Boisson.

"Honestly, it feels incredible, but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere," Sabalenka said. "She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match, it was a tricky match, but I managed."

Sabalenka took advantage of 12 unforced errors by Swiatek in the decisive third set.

"It could not be more perfect than that," Sabalenka said. "I'm super proud right now. I'm glad I found my serve."

Swiatek won her first French Open in 2020 before claiming the trophies in 2022, 2023 and 2024. She also won a bronze medal at Roland Garros in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her French Open record is 40-3.