The 2025 French Open women’s semifinal delivered a seismic upset as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dethroned Iga Świątek, the four-time champion, in a gripping 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 clash on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The defeat not only ended Świątek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros but also marked a brutal milestone: a third-set bagel, the first time the Polish star has been shut out 6-0 on the Parisian clay. This single, stinging number—zero—encapsulates the collapse of Świątek’s reign as the “Queen of Clay” and signals a shifting tide in women’s tennis as Sabalenka surges toward her first French Open title.
Świątek, who turned 24 just days before the match, entered the tournament as the defending champion, having won four of the last five French Opens. Her clay-court dominance, with a 40-3 record at Roland Garros and an 87% career win rate on the surface, had drawn comparisons to Rafael Nadal. Yet, 2025 has been a year of uncharacteristic struggles for the former world No. 1, now ranked No. 5. Without a title or final appearance since her 2024 Roland Garros triumph, Świątek faced mounting pressure to reclaim her form in Paris. Her semifinal against Sabalenka was a chance to reassert her supremacy, but instead, it became a defining moment of vulnerability. “I lost my intensity a bit,” Świątek admitted, reflecting on the match’s turning points. “She didn’t doubt. She just went for it.”
The match began as a heavyweight battle, with Sabalenka seizing a 4-1 lead in the first set, her powerful groundstrokes testing Świątek’s renowned defense. The Pole rallied, winning four consecutive games to serve for the set at 5-4, only for Sabalenka to force a tiebreak. The Belarusian’s composure shone, claiming a one-sided 7-1 tiebreak with an ace. “It was a true battle,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to get back into that first set.” Świątek responded in the second, breaking early with a deft drop shot and holding serve under pressure to level the match at 6-4. “I needed to do something to get back into the game,” Świątek said, recalling her fight to stay competitive.
But the third set was a shocking unraveling. Sabalenka, who has transformed her game with newfound consistency on clay, unleashed a barrage of 19 winners with zero unforced errors, winning 19 of the final 21 points in a 22-minute rout. “The third set, oh my god. To win a set against Iga 6-0 on the clay. It’s like something out of mind,” Sabalenka exclaimed, her disbelief echoing the crowd’s stunned silence. For Świątek, known for dishing out “bagels” and “breadsticks” (6-0 and 6-1 sets) in 40.6% of her matches, this reversal was particularly jarring. Her nickname, “Iga’s Bakery,” took on a bitter irony as she became the recipient of her own trademark punishment.
Świątek’s 2025 season has been marked by setbacks. Early exits in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, coupled with losses to Jelena Ostapenko, Coco Gauff, and Danielle Collins, saw her relinquish the No. 1 ranking to Sabalenka in October 2024. Her French Open campaign showed flashes of brilliance, including a comeback from a set down against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round, where she won 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. “It means a lot. I needed that kind of win to feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure,” she said then. But against Sabalenka, the pressure proved too much. The loss drops Świątek to No. 7 in the WTA rankings, her lowest in over three years, with a 1220-point deduction stinging as much as the third-set scoreline.
Sabalenka, now 20-3 on clay over the past year, heads to her first Roland Garros final against Gauff, buoyed by confidence. “I’m super happy right now, but the job isn’t done,” she said, eyeing her fourth Grand Slam title. For Świątek, the defeat raises questions about her future. Her mental resilience, often bolstered by sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, has been tested by an anti-doping investigation in 2024 and a title drought that now spans 12 months. “I love this place. I wait every year to come back here,” Świątek said, her affection for Roland Garros undimmed despite the loss.
As Świątek prepares for the grass season, starting with the Queen’s Club Championships, the tennis world wonders if this defeat will spark a resurgence or signal a deeper slide. With endorsements from Porsche, VISA, and Lancôme, and a $35 million career prize money haul, Świątek’s off-court success is secure. But on the court, the zero in that third set will linger, a stark reminder of the challenge ahead to reclaim her throne.
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