Poland's Iga Świątek won her third French Open title in Paris ©Getty Images

Poland's world number one Iga Świątek became the first player to defend her women's singles title at the French Open in 16 years, with a hard-fought three-set victory against the unseeded Karolína Muchová of the Czech Republic.

Belgium's Justine Henin was the last player to achieve the feat with her third consecutive title in 2007.

Świątek, who had reached the final without dropping a set, was up against world number 43 Muchová, competing in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 26, having been warned by doctors just over a year ago her career may be over.

The first set on Court Philippe-Chatrier comfortably went in Świątek's favour as she took it 6-2, and an early break in the second appeared to have her in cruise control at 3-0.

However, Muchová hit back with three breaks to stage a fine comeback and win the second set 7-5.

Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova pushed Poland's Iga Świątek to three sets in the women's singles final ©Getty Images
Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova pushed Poland's Iga Świątek to three sets in the women's singles final ©Getty Images

An early break in the third set for Muchová remarkably had her opponent in trouble, but both players struggled to hold their serve.

Ultimately, it was Świątek who held her nerve and triumphed 6-4 in the decider for her fourth Grand Slam, three of which have come at Roland Garros.

In the match that followed on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Croatia's Olympic silver medallist Ivan Dodig and the United States' Austin Krajicek won the men's doubles title 6-3, 6-1 against Belgium's Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen.

The French Open is due to conclude in Paris tomorrow with the men's singles final, in which Serbia's Novak Djokovic could win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title against Norway's Casper Ruud.