In a heart-pounding fourth-round clash at the 2025 French Open, Iga Swiatek, the four-time Roland Garros champion, faced a formidable challenge from Elena Rybakina, battling back from a set and a break down to secure a thrilling 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The match, a showcase of raw power and resilience, saw Swiatek liken Rybakina’s relentless aggression to playing against men’s world number one Jannik Sinner. “The first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,” Swiatek admitted post-match, capturing the intensity of Rybakina’s onslaught. This dramatic win keeps Swiatek’s quest for a historic fourth consecutive French Open title alive, extending her remarkable 25-match winning streak at the tournament.
Rybakina, the 12th seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, came out firing, dominating the opening set 6-1 in just 27 minutes. Her powerful first serve, often exceeding 180 km/h, and flat, precise forehands left Swiatek scrambling, evoking memories of her recent losses to players like Danielle Collins and Coco Gauff. “She was playing this close from the line—it was a great level,” Swiatek said, acknowledging Rybakina’s ability to dictate play with her aggressive shot-making. The Kazakhstani broke Swiatek’s serve three times in the first set, nearly securing a bagel before Swiatek clung on to avoid a 6-0 rout. Rybakina’s momentum carried into the second set, where she broke early for a 2-0 lead, leaving the Parisian crowd stunned as the defending champion teetered on the brink.
Yet, Swiatek’s champion mentality shone through. Known for her mental fortitude and clay-court prowess, the 24-year-old Pole, who celebrated her birthday on May 31, 2025, refused to buckle. “I needed to do something to get back into the game—with her playing like that, I didn’t have a lot of hope,” she confessed. Adjusting her tactics, Swiatek stood further back to counter Rybakina’s pace, relying on her signature topspin to disrupt her opponent’s rhythm. A critical break at 2-2, sparked by Rybakina netting a simple volley, shifted the momentum. Swiatek surged to an 11-point run, clinching the second set 6-3 with a blistering forehand pass that left the crowd roaring.
The decider was a rollercoaster, with both players trading blows in a display of high-octane tennis. Rybakina’s backhand, described as “thunderous” by onlookers, sent Swiatek’s racket flying in the fifth game, but the Pole responded with a delicate volley only to miss one herself moments later. “We played pretty amazing,” Swiatek reflected, noting the match’s intensity. At 3-3, Swiatek earned a break, only for Rybakina to level at 4-4 with a double fault from the Pole. A dramatic moment came at 4-4, 15-40, when Swiatek thought she had broken Rybakina’s serve, but umpire Kader Nouni’s overrule gave Rybakina a first serve, allowing her to save both break points and hold for 5-4. Undeterred, Swiatek seized her chance in the 10th game, capitalizing on a poorly executed Rybakina drop shot to break and then serving out the match with a forehand winner into the corner, sealing the 7-5 set after two hours and 30 minutes.
Rybakina, who entered Paris on a nine-match winning streak after her Strasbourg title, expressed disappointment but pride in her effort. “What a ride these past two weeks,” she shared online, thanking Swiatek for her post-match sportsmanship. Their head-to-head, now tied at 4-4, underscores Rybakina’s ability to challenge Swiatek, particularly on clay, where she holds a 2-0 edge from wins in Stuttgart and Rome. Swiatek, however, has won their last two encounters, including a straight-sets victory in Doha earlier this year. “It’s tough to play here, and it means a lot to win this match,” Swiatek said, eyeing her next challenge against Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. As she chases history, Swiatek’s ability to overcome Rybakina’s Sinner-like firepower reaffirms her status as the queen of clay, setting the stage for a thrilling second week at Roland Garros.
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