Iga Swiatek Storms Roland-Garros 2025: Unstoppable World No. 1 Chasing Fourth French Open Crown

Paris — Iga Świątek steps onto Court Philippe-Chatrier this week with history squarely in her sights. The 23-year-old Pole is chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive women’s singles crown at Roland-Garros, a feat last achieved in 1923 and never in the Open Era. Despite owning a 28-2 career record on the Parisian clay, Świątek arrives as the No. 5 seed after a turbulent start to 2025 that has seen her slip outside the WTA Top 4 for the first time since 2021. Early exits in Madrid and Rome raised eyebrows, and bookmakers have installed Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff as co-favorites for the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen. Świątek’s opening assignment is world No. 106 Rebecca Šramková, a qualifier with nothing to lose but little in the way of clay-court pedigree. From there, the draw only gets steeper: a projected fourth-round clash with former champion Barbora Krejčíková, quarter-final fireworks against Gauff, and a possible semi-final against Sabalenka, the woman who ended Świątek’s 41-match clay winning streak in Madrid two years ago. Speaking at media day, Świątek unveiled a new mental mantra—“neutral focus”—designed to keep emotions flat during the inevitable roller-coaster of Grand Slam fortnight. “The pressure is external,” she said. “Inside, it’s still red clay and a yellow ball. If I stay neutral, the rest takes care of itself.” Tactically, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski has emphasized heavier topspin to exploit the slightly slower Wilson balls introduced this year. The adjustment could prove critical in the cooler first week, when high-bouncing forehands have long been Świątek’s trademark weapon. Key storylines to watch • Record chase: A fourth straight title would tie Świątek with Justine Henin for the most Roland-Garros women’s trophies this century and move her within one of Steffi Graf’s six overall. • Rival resurgence: Sabalenka owns a 4-2 head-to-head edge since the start of 2024, while Gauff stunned Świątek in Cincinnati last summer. Both sit in the opposite half, setting up a potential blockbuster final. • Polish pride: Świątek already ranks as Poland’s most decorated tennis player, but another Paris triumph would push her career prize money past $38 million and cement her status as a global sporting icon. • Weather wild card: Forecasts call for scattered showers during week one, conditions that could level the playing field for counter-punchers like Ons Jabeur and Qinwen Zheng lurking in Świątek’s section. Outlook Form may be fickle, yet pedigree on clay is immutable, and no active player commands the terre battue like Iga Świątek. If the Warsaw native rides her customary first-strike forehand and maintains the “neutral focus” she preaches, a slice of tennis history awaits. But with the deepest women’s field in years eager to topple the Queen of Clay, Roland-Garros 2025 promises drama from first ball to final trophy lift.