Iga Swiatek will be aiming to join an exclusive group of players who have won the Suzanne Lenglen Cup four times when she starts her title defense at the French Open next week. Since tennis turned professional in 1968, only Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin have achieved at least four titles at Roland Garros. Based on her current form, it is hard to bet against Swiatek adding her name to that prestigious list come June 8.
After winning back-to-back titles in WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, the top-ranked player in the world will enter the Paris tournament with a 12-match winning streak, as she aims for her fourth victory in five years at the claycourt major. In addition, she has a chance to accomplish the rare 'Triple Crown,' as she seeks to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2013 to win the Madrid-Rome-Paris titles in the same season.
Twice Rome champion Elina Svitolina, said, "She lives to play on clay... She’s playing really well, so it’s going to be tough to beat her." Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, described Swiatek's skills on red dirt, saying, "She’s been Chris Evert-like. That topspin drives you nuts and I think she moves as good as anybody. Clay, she’s got that down to perfection, the sliding and the movement and recovery. Just wears you out from the baseline, playing aggressive. She’s got the consistency and the major wins. That’s why she’s been No.1 for so long. Paris is the perfect venue for her game."
Swiatek herself expressed a different mindset this year, saying, "I feel like I'm in a different place. I'm still focusing on the same things but I remember last year I was more nervous and more stressed. I felt more pressure. This time I'm kind of using the way I feel to just enjoy everything more. I just want to stay in my rhythm, stay in my zone, be focused."
Despite being the top-ranked player and the favorite in the tournament, Swiatek understands there will be added pressure, but she is prepared to face the challenge step by step. If any of the other top players stumble at Roland Garros, there are a few promising contenders ready to seize the opportunity.
American Danielle Collins, currently ranked 12th, is aiming for her first Grand Slam title after an impressive year on the tour. Collins, who announced her retirement at the end of the season, has been playing some of the best tennis of her career. She won 15 consecutive matches, claimed her first-ever Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open, and also won the Charleston Open title. Although she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open and the Italian Open semi-finals, Collins' stock is clearly on the rise.
