As the tennis world turns its attention to the 2025 French Open, set to begin on May 25, all eyes are on Iga Swiatek, the defending champion and four-time Roland Garros winner. Known as the “Queen of Clay,” Swiatek has long been a formidable force on the red dirt, boasting an impressive 35-2 record at the Paris Grand Slam. However, former American tennis star John Isner has cast doubt on her status as the favorite, pointing to her recent struggles and highlighting the rise of rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. “She’s not playing her best tennis right now,” Isner remarked, suggesting that Swiatek’s vulnerabilities could open the door for others to claim the coveted title.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a stark contrast to her dominant 2022-2024 campaigns, where she clinched 14 titles, including three consecutive French Opens. This year, the 23-year-old Pole has yet to win a tournament, her last triumph coming at Roland Garros in 2024. Her clay court season has been particularly turbulent. In Stuttgart, she fell in the second round to Jelena Ostapenko, and in Madrid, she was outplayed by Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, losing 6-1, 6-1. The Italian Open delivered the most shocking blow, as Swiatek, a three-time champion in Rome, suffered a third-round exit to Danielle Collins, 6-1, 7-5. “For sure, I’m doing something wrong,” Swiatek admitted post-match, acknowledging the need to regroup before Paris.
Off-court challenges have compounded Swiatek’s on-court woes. A doping suspension in late 2024, stemming from an unintentional positive test for Trimetazidine, forced her to miss the Asian swing and drew intense scrutiny. Though the suspension was lifted after she proved the substance came from a contaminated melatonin supplement, the ordeal took a mental toll. “It hasn’t been easy,” Swiatek said, reflecting on the cumulative pressure. Additionally, the passing of her grandfather before the Madrid Open and a disruptive incident with a heckler during a Miami practice session have further tested her resilience. Her decision to part ways with longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, under whom she won four majors, has also raised questions about her team’s stability heading into the French Open.
Isner, speaking on the *Nothing Is Major* podcast, emphasized that Sabalenka and Gauff are now the players to beat. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, has been a consistent threat, reaching the Australian Open final and showing relentless power on all surfaces. Gauff, the new world No. 2, has surged with a title in Beijing and a semi-final run in Madrid, her confidence soaring on clay. “The likes of Sabalenka and Gauff go in as the favorites,” Isner asserted, noting their ability to capitalize on Swiatek’s current form dip. Betting odds, however, still favor Swiatek at +150, with Sabalenka at +275 and Gauff at +600, reflecting her storied history at Roland Garros.
Despite her struggles, Swiatek remains a formidable contender. Her mental toughness, honed with the help of sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, has been a cornerstone of her success. “I’ll just try to change my mindset a little bit, try to regroup and just focus day by day working,” she said after her Rome loss, signaling her determination to reset. Her unparalleled clay court record, including a 2024 final win over Jasmine Paolini, suggests she can still summon her best when it matters most. Yet, the pressure of defending her title, combined with a rankings drop to No. 4—her lowest since March 2022—adds complexity to her campaign.
The French Open draw will be pivotal. Swiatek’s ability to avoid early clashes with big hitters like Sabalenka, Gauff, or even Elena Rybakina, who has entered Strasbourg to fine-tune her clay game, could determine her path. For now, the tennis world is abuzz with speculation: Can Swiatek reclaim her clay court throne, or will her vulnerabilities, as Isner suggests, pave the way for a new champion? As Roland Garros approaches, Swiatek’s journey promises to be one of resilience, redemption, and high-stakes drama.
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