Top seed within two wins of becoming 11th match-point-saving major champion this century
© Pauline Ballet/FFTIf Iga Swiatek is straining under the hype since surviving an almighty first-week near-miss at Roland-Garros she certainly isn’t showing it.
While the Pole was not casting an eye beyond a semi-final showdown with third seed Coco Gauff, the scorelines since that remarkable Houdini escape act against Naomi Osaka from match point down in the second round were a fair indication of just how emboldened she has become.
Swiatek is now just two wins from becoming the 11th woman this century to land a major having staved off a match point along the way.
Serena Williams did it three times, while the most recent woman to achieve the feat at a Grand Slam was Czech Barbora Krejcikova en route to the spoils in Paris three years ago.
Former world No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska and former finalist Lucie Safarova agree it now takes a brave pundit to pick a name other than Swiatek’s for a fourth Roland-Garros triumph.
Radwanska, who watched her fellow Pole crush Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals, said if anything the top seed had gained an edge on her rivals from the Osaka victory.
“That's actually like the second life, right? I think it's the big breath,” Radwanska told rolandgarros.com. “She was almost [back] home and then there you go, she's still playing, and playing great tennis.
“I think that match is just behind her and she's not thinking about it at all now. It doesn't really matter what happened. She's on fire and I think she's going to get another.
“I still see the gap. I think it's all about how mentally they're going to go on court with Iga. As we could see the other rounds [since the Osaka match], it's not always about the tennis but how you go on court and whether you believe you can do it.
“Some of them don't believe it at all. We could see that. If they believe, there can be some good matches, some good fights and some really long battles, but [some] are… already losing in the locker-room.”
A finalist at Roland-Garros 2015 when she came within a set of stunning Serena Williams, former world No.5 Safarova knows what it is like to be on the receiving end of a match-point escape at a major only for her vanquisher to go all the way.
At Australian Open 2014, the Czech came within a point of stopping Li Na in the third round only for the Chinese champion to fight back and subsequently claim the title.
©Clément Mahoudeau / FFT“[Often] when you save match points in such a tournament you win the tournament,” Safarova told rolandgarros.com. “It could happen. Once you go through such a match that you think it's gone already, so early, and you survive that usually it takes all the pressure suddenly off.
“What I at least experienced myself is when you win tough matches in the first rounds that really helps you in the rest of the tournament because you get used to the conditions, the emotions and everything… It doesn't surprise me she's competing so well now.”
Swiatek singled out her return to the winner’s podium on Court Philippe-Chatrier two years ago as the most telling of her runs to the silverware in Paris.
But her successful title defence in 2023 stood clear as the heaviest she felt the pressure.
“I remember last year was really stressful for me, so every match was, like, kind of like a relief,” Swiatek said. “Now I'm enjoying it more, and I have more satisfaction from just playing my game.
©Christophe Saïdi / FFT“Two years ago, I would say in my mind it felt pretty similar, because I just felt like I had already a great season, and now I can just go for it, you know. And 2020, it doesn't really fit anyway, because it was just all hectic and it was all a surprise.”
It was no mean feat handling what was expected of her as such a long-standing leader of the pack.
In April, Swiatek became the fifth youngest woman to reach 100 weeks as world No.1 behind only Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert.
None of her prolonged success has been down to luck.
“She's very professional, she's such a hard worker and I think she is really thinking each match she wants to be the best and win every point,” Radwanska said. “It doesn't matter who is on the other side of the net, she’s taking everything very seriously.
“I think especially every year gets tougher because everybody expects her to win everything everywhere and I think what she does the best is handle the pressure. It's not easy if everybody is watching, judging, commentating and expecting you to win and you're still doing that. I think that's a big respect for Iga for managing that another year.”
Barbora Krejcikova: 2021 French Open, d. Maria Sakkari, SF
Naomi Osaka: 2021 Australian Open, d. Garbine Muguruza, R4
Caroline Wozniacki: 2018 Australian Open, d. Jana Fett, R2
Angelique Kerber: 2016 Australian Open, d. Misaki Doi, R1
Li Na: 2014 Australian Open, d. Lucie Safarova, R3
Serena Williams: 2009 Wimbledon, d. Elena Dementieva, SF
Venus Williams: 2005 Wimbledon, d. Lindsay Davenport, final
Justine Henin: 2005 French Open, d. Svetlana Kuznetsova, R4
Serena Williams: 2005 Australian Open, d. Maria Sharapova, SF
Anastasia Myskina: 2004 French Open, d. Svetlana Kuznetsova, R4
Serena Williams: 2003 Australian Open, d. Kim Clijsters, SF
Jennifer Capriati: 2002 Australian Open, d. Martina Hingis, final
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
