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World number one Aryna Sabalenka edged closer to her first French Open crown after defeating four-time champion Iga Swiatek in a thrilling semi-final clash.
The Belarusian will now face second seed Coco Gauff in Saturday's final after the American halted French wildcard Lois Boisson's sensational run.
Sabalenka claimed a 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 win to snap Swiatek's remarkable 26-match unbeaten streak at Roland Garros.
Though Swiatek fought back after a shaky start, Sabalenka completely took control in a dominant final set that lasted just 24 minutes.
This marks Sabalenka's first appearance in the French Open final—her previous Grand Slam triumphs all came on hard courts. "It's an amazing feeling, but the mission isn't over yet. I'm really happy with how I played," said the 27-year-old.
"Iga is always a tough opponent, especially here. I'm proud I could pull off this victory."
Gauff, who lost to Swiatek in the 2022 final, cruised past world number 361 Boisson with a 6-1, 6-2 win. The young French player had been the surprise story of the tournament, making her Grand Slam debut after overcoming serious injury.
Ever since the draw was revealed, fans had anticipated this clash between Sabalenka and Swiatek—the top-ranked player versus the reigning queen of clay.
Together, they've won six of the last 10 major tournaments and have been the dominant forces on the WTA Tour.
Swiatek, now ranked fifth after a turbulent season, arrived in Paris with less momentum, while Sabalenka carried the favorite tag.
The significance of the match appeared to weigh on both players early on, resulting in a nervous first set.
With rain forcing the roof to close, Sabalenka found her rhythm faster under the heavier conditions that complemented her power.
Her aggressive returns overwhelmed Swiatek initially, allowing the Belarusian to jump to a double break lead. But the Polish star adjusted her tactics, stepping further behind the baseline to absorb pace and stage a comeback from nearly 5-1 down.
Her changes paid off as she reeled off three straight games and took a 5-4 lead, but the opening set remained unpredictable, with both players struggling to maintain momentum.
Eventually, Sabalenka took the set in a dominant tiebreak.
The second set saw more erratic play from both sides, with three straight breaks to start. Swiatek found some consistency to take the set and force a decider.
However, the final set was all Sabalenka. As Swiatek's serve fell apart again, Sabalenka powered her way to her fifth Grand Slam final in her last seven appearances.
"I think I lost focus a little," admitted Swiatek. "She kept up her level, but I didn't respond the way I needed to."
Boisson's Dream Run Comes to a Halt
Lois Boisson's inspiring run came to an end at the hands of Gauff, but not before she captured the hearts of fans.
The 22-year-old, who returned from a major knee injury just last year, had defied all odds to reach the semi-finals of her home Slam.
She had been offered a wildcard in 2024 as well, only to miss out due to an ACL tear shortly before the tournament.
Her comeback this year was nothing short of remarkable—taking out top seeds Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva to book a spot in the semi-finals.
But against a focused Gauff, she was outmatched.
Despite the passionate home crowd cheering her on inside Court Philippe Chatrier, Boisson couldn't match the American's pace and power.
Gauff broke her serve six times and closed out the win in just over an hour, booking a return to the final in emphatic fashion.
