Swiatek Faces French Open Test Amid Form Struggles and Off-Court Challenges

Posted : 22 May 2025

Iga Swiatek has dominated Roland Garros since her breakthrough victory as a teenager in 2020, yet recent struggles have made her far from the favorite to claim the title this year. After dropping to fifth in the world rankings, ending a remarkable 173-week run inside the top two, Swiatek now faces a more challenging road to her fifth French Open crown in six attempts. She has not won a title since securing her third consecutive French Open last June, a feat unmatched since Justine Henin’s streak from 2005 to 2007.

This season has been difficult for Swiatek, highlighted by early losses such as her third-round exit to Danielle Collins in Rome and a heavy defeat to Coco Gauff in the Madrid semifinals. While she has consistently reached at least the quarterfinals in seven of eight tournaments this year, she has yet to reach a final, including a painful loss to Madison Keys in the Australian Open semifinals where she squandered a match point.

These struggles trace back to the end of last year when she missed several events due to “personal matters,” later revealed to be a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned heart medication, which she attributed to contaminated sleep aids.

Beyond the ban, Swiatek has faced several off-court challenges and moments of visible frustration, including an incident at Indian Wells where she angrily swatted a ball toward a ball boy and harassment by a spectator in Miami requiring extra security.

Personal hardship has also weighed heavily on her; she returned to Poland recently for her grandfather’s funeral and was emotionally overwhelmed during a match against Gauff in Madrid. Despite these difficulties, Swiatek remains supported by her coach Wim Fissette and longtime sports psychologist, though she admits confusion and mental struggles are affecting her game.

Former champion Justine Henin believes Swiatek’s current struggles are part of a tough cycle, suggesting the French Open might be a turning point for the young star to reflect and regain her form. Despite her recent slump, competitors like Gauff warn against underestimating Swiatek, noting that her past success at Roland Garros proves she can always find a way to win again. Swiatek’s record at the tournament—21 consecutive wins and 35 of 37 matches overall—remains a testament to her dominance and potential for a comeback.

Swiatek Faces French Open Test Amid Form Struggles and Off-Court Challenges

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