As she approaches her 22nd birthday throughout the first week of the French Open, Swiatek enters as the favourite for a 3rd title in 4 years in Paris, although she might encounter more durable opposition than her unstoppable marketing campaign final yr.
Swiatek’s affinity for clay is plain. In 2022, she dropped only one set en path to claiming the title at Roland Garros, reaffirming her standing as a drive to be reckoned with.
Her victory not solely marked her second French Open triumph but in addition propelled her profession to new heights, changing into Poland’s first-ever Grand Slam singles champion.
Final yr’s last noticed Swiatek dominate Coco Gauff, showcasing her dominance on the purple dust. Swiatek’s outstanding 37-match successful streak was ultimately halted at Wimbledon.
The present season has been nothing wanting spectacular for Swiatek. She has already added two titles to her assortment, triumphing on laborious courts in Qatar and on clay in Stuttgart.
Moreover, she has reached two different finals, highlighting her constant and stellar efficiency throughout completely different surfaces. Swiatek’s current successes additional solidify her place as one of many high contenders for the Roland Garros crown.
However her rivals have clearly stepped as much as the plate.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina overpowered Swiatek within the India Wells semi-final whereas Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka beat Swiatek on clay within the Madrid last, albeit in quicker situations than are normally present in Paris.
Swiatek has additionally been troubled by a proper thigh damage that flared up in Rome the place she retired throughout the third set of a quarter-final scrap with Rybakina.
She has given optimistic updates on that damage and might be determined to be firing on all cylinders in Paris. Organisers and followers alike will definitely hope so, as a result of Swiatek in full circulation on clay is sort of a spectacle.
Blessed with one of the vital damaging forehands within the ladies’s sport (assume German nice Steffi Graf’s however with extra spin), Swiatek can be a grasp tactician who seems to have umpteen options to any puzzle on a clay court docket.
Her psychological fortitude can be confirmed, with Warsaw native Swiatek capable of thrive below strain, a results of her work with sports activities psychologist Daria Abramowicz.
So whereas the challengers have thrown down the gauntlet for what guarantees to be an enthralling ladies’s match, Swiatek won’t be shedding an excessive amount of sleep about them.
“I do know that there are gamers which might be extra strong all through the entire season. You’ll be able to see that from rankings, additionally from how they play,” she mentioned in Rome not too long ago.
“I am extra centered on myself. I do not actually take a look at different gamers which might be enjoying nicely. Would not actually make a lot sense for me to over-analyse that.”
(With Reuters inputs)
