As the tennis world turns its gaze to the red clay of Roland Garros for the 2025 French Open, all eyes are on Iga Swiatek, the Polish phenom whose dominance on the surface has drawn comparisons to Rafael Nadal. Yet, former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin has issued a stark warning: Swiatek’s alarming dip in form this year demands a seismic turnaround in Paris. Henin, herself a four-time French Open winner, believes that the upcoming Major could be the crucible where Swiatek’s season either reignites or spirals further. “All of this puts pressure on her. She’s in a vicious circle,” Henin observed, pointing to the mounting challenges facing the 23-year-old star. For Swiatek, the French Open is not just a chance to defend her title but a critical moment to “explode” and reclaim her place at the pinnacle of the sport.
Swiatek’s 2024 season was nothing short of historic. She clinched her fourth French Open crown, becoming the first woman since Henin (2005-2007) to win three consecutive titles in Paris. Her 35-2 record at Roland Garros, coupled with a Madrid-Rome-Paris triple—a feat only Serena Williams had achieved in 2013—cemented her as the undisputed queen of clay. Yet, 2025 has been a different story. The world No. 2 has failed to win a Grand Slam since last year’s Roland Garros, with early exits in Rome and Stuttgart to Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko, respectively. A crushing 1-6, 1-6 loss to Coco Gauff in the Madrid semi-finals underscored her struggles, a far cry from the player who once overwhelmed opponents with her heavy topspin and relentless precision. For the first time since 2020, Swiatek enters Paris without a clay-court title in the lead-up, a troubling sign for a player whose game is tailor-made for the surface.
Henin’s analysis cuts to the heart of Swiatek’s predicament. “It’s not surprising to see her struggling,” she said, noting the psychological toll of maintaining excellence. Swiatek, a self-described perfectionist, has spoken openly about the mental strain of her 125 weeks as world No. 1, a tenure that ranks seventh all-time. Her aggressive, all-court style—marked by a blistering forehand and backhand down the line—has historically produced both winners and unforced errors in droves, but recent matches have tilted toward the latter. Losses like the one to Madison Keys at the Australian Open, where Swiatek squandered a match point and faltered while serving for the match, reveal tactical and mental vulnerabilities. Henin pinpointed Swiatek’s positioning against Keys, suggesting she was “tactically not in the right position” and seemed “scared” of her opponent’s power, a rare hesitation for a player known for her commanding presence.
The French Open, Henin argues, is where Swiatek must break free from this downward spiral. “Perhaps this is the moment when it needs to explode, so that things come out, so that she can analyse, understand what is happening to the great perfectionist that she is,” Henin said. Roland Garros has always been Swiatek’s sanctuary, a place where she feels “at home,” as she did in 2024 when she overcame a match point against Naomi Osaka to launch a dominant run to the title. Her ability to reset after near-defeats, as seen in that epic 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 victory, speaks to her resilience. Yet, with formidable opponents like Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff, and a resurgent Osaka looming, Swiatek cannot afford complacency. Sabalenka, in particular, has pushed her to the brink on clay, nearly toppling her in Madrid last year, while Ostapenko’s 6-0 head-to-head record remains a psychological hurdle.
At 23, Swiatek’s potential remains boundless. Her five Grand Slam titles, including the 2022 US Open, place her among the elite, and her 89% win rate on clay (84-10) is a testament to her mastery. Henin, who sees echoes of her own clay-court artistry in Swiatek, believes a strong showing in Paris could be the catalyst for a career-defining resurgence. “Iga is the boss,” Henin said last year, praising her ability to stay atop the game. But with the weight of expectations and a season of uncharacteristic losses, Swiatek must channel that intensity to rediscover her form. As the French Open begins on May 25, the tennis world awaits whether Swiatek will heed Henin’s call to “explode” and reassert her dominance, or if her struggles will cast a shadow over her clay-court kingdom.
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