Four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek is in a deep crisis just before Roland Garros. A debacle raises questions.
The long-standing dominance on clay seems to be finally over for four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek: The 23-year-old Polish player was swept off the court by US player Coco Gauff 1-6, 1-6 in the semifinals of the WTA tournament in Madrid, where she was defending her title, and finds herself in a deep crisis around three weeks before the start of the French Open in Paris (May 25 to June 8).
World number two Swiatek didn’t stand a chance against the world number four. Former US Open winner Gauff didn’t have to save a single break point, and the one-sided match was over after 64 minutes.
Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up
Like millions of other people, I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!! https://t.co/zV2lQE4kKq— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) May 1, 2025
“It was pretty much the same from start to finish. I couldn’t raise my level. Coco played well, but I think it’s because I didn’t move very well,” said Swiatek, coming to a worrying conclusion. “I wasn’t ready to hit the shots back with power. It was pretty bad.” Everything felt ‘heavy,’ ‘like you’re forcing everything instead of it coming intuitively and naturally. I hope it clicks one day.’
The Polish player had only suffered one such heavy defeat on clay, her favorite surface, before. At the time, however, Swiatek was only 18 years old and at the beginning of her career: in 2019, she lost 1-6, 0-6 to Simona Halep at the French Open.
“Keep your head up”: consolation for Swiatek from tennis star
Swiatek received consolation afterwards from Norway’s Casper Ruud. In response to a video on X showing the Polish player sitting on the bench in the second set, lost in thought and frustrated, with a towel over her head, he wrote encouragingly: “Iga, keep your head up. Like millions of people, I love watching you play. Today is not your day, but you inspire so many and you will come back stronger than ever!”
Swiatek has not won a tournament since her French Open triumph last June, and her one-month doping ban following a positive test last August has clearly left its mark on the Polish player.
In the second semi-final on Thursday evening, world number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus will face Elina Svitolina from Ukraine.
