Iga Swiatek's Remarkable Comeback Leads to Third Consecutive French Open Title

Iga Swiatek's Dramatic Comeback

The end looked nigh for Iga Swiatek when she was match point down against Naomi Osaka in their second-round blockbuster at the French Open. Tension was etched across the world number one's face in the depths of a dramatic deciding set. Sweat poured from a furrowed brow as she tried desperately to figure out what was going wrong.

Turning Point

Avoiding defeat, with an angled, crosscourt backhand return that Osaka hit into the net, proved to be the catalyst for Swiatek's march to a third consecutive title at Roland Garros - and a fourth overall. "[Coming back like that] gives me the feeling that I should always believe in myself, that I can find my tennis even if I'm in big trouble and fight back," Swiatek said in her title-winning news conference.

Dominating the Draw

Following that moment, the Polish top seed sailed serenely through the draw. The 23-year-old won 64 of 81 games in a run which culminated in a commanding 6-2 6-1 victory over Italy's Jasmine Paolini.

Key Matches

A 40-minute ‘double bagel’ over Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round laid down a significant marker, before 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova was sent packing in the quarter-finals for the loss of just two games. US Open champion Coco Gauff offered more resistance in the semi-finals but Swiatek still asserted control against an opponent she has dominated in their previous meetings.

Crushing the Final

In a final which few expected her to lose, Swiatek crushed Paolini in a devastating performance which showcased her ability and authority on the red dirt. "I'm a perfectionist, so there is always pressure," said Swiatek. "But I think I'm fine with handling my own pressure. It's when the pressure from the outside hits me, then it's a little bit worse. I managed it really well at this tournament."

Swiatek's Rising Legacy

Swiatek's aura at Roland Garros is becoming so great that she is now being dubbed the 'Queen of Clay'. The key statistics show why: Swiatek has won 21 matches in a row at the French Open - the fourth-longest streak in women's singles in the Open era. Swiatek has won 35 of her 37 matches at Roland Garros. She has not lost in Paris since 2021.

Historical Achievements

By beating Paolini on Saturday, Swiatek has become the youngest woman to win four French Open titles in the Open era. Only Chris Evert (seven), Steffi Graf (six) and Justine Henin (four) have matched or bettered her tally. American great Evert, who won 18 major titles between 1974 and 1986, says she worries "every day" about Swiatek beating her record at Roland Garros.

Future Prospects

"Getting to double digits here still seems a long shot. I will sure work for it and will do my best to become better and better every year – and play my best tennis here," said Swiatek. While most of Swiatek's Grand Slam success has come on the clay, her dominance on the WTA Tour has been underpinned by her ability on the hard courts. Her other major triumph came at the 2022 US Open, with 13 of her 22 WTA titles coming on the acrylic.

Wimbledon and Beyond

Grass has been her least proficient surface - having played just 23 matches on the surface in her professional career, compared with 205 on hard and 90 on clay. Wimbledon is the major tournament where she has had the least success as a professional. Last year's run to the quarter-finals was her best performance, although she did win the junior title at the All England Club in 2018.

"I think Swiatek will win all four Grand Slams," said former British number one Annabel Croft. "Look at Nadal - I think people thought he would never win Wimbledon but he found a way to win it."