Iga Swiatek says winning the French Open was extra spectacular after 'doing something better than Serena'

• World No. 1 Iga Swiatek beat American Coco Gauff in straight sets to win the 2022 French Open.
• With the victory at Roland-Garros, Swiatek broke Serena Williams' 34-game win streak from 2013.

Iga Swiatek won her second career Grand Slam title after steamrolling the competition at the 2022 French Open.

But her straight-set win over American Coco Gauff in Saturday's final secured more than the iconic Suzanne-Lenglen Cup. It also gave the World No. 1 her 35th consecutive victory, which officially bests Serena Williams' 34-match win streak from 2013 and ties Venus Williams' 35-match win streak at the turn of the century.

And while she swears breaking those streaks "wasn't my target" because she didn't "have full control over doing that," Swiatek admits that matching the Williams sisters — particularly one with 23 Grand Slam singles trophies on her mantle — is surreal.

"It may seem pretty weird, but having that 35th win and doing something more than Serena did, it's something special," Swiatek told reporters after Saturday's victory. "Because I always wanted to have some kind of a record. In tennis, it's pretty hard after Serena's career. So basically that really hit me."

Swiatek later told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen that "doing something better than Serena kind of, it's the best thing you can get in tennis, basically, after what she's done for so many years."

"No one is going to take it from me, you know?" she added. "I'm pretty happy I could achieve that."

The 21-year-old Polish superstar joins elite company with her win streak, which dates all the way back to February. Only six women have enjoyed unbeaten streaks longer than Swiatek's and Venus Williams' 35-straight in the Open Era, and all six — Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles — are bona fide legends of the sport.

While Swiatek has allowed for the possibility that her current streak could extend even further, she's admitted she's less confident heading into the upcoming stretch of the year. Grass season starts up immediately following Roland-Garros, and the surface has never been Swiatek's specialty.

"Honestly, grass is always tricky," Swiatek said after her win in Paris. "I actually like the part that I have no expectations there. It's something kind of refreshing."

The champ intends to spend a few days back home recovering before finding her footing on grass courts. With Wimbledon less than a month away, Swiatek's continued dominance will depend on it.