The 2025 Madrid Open delivered a seismic shock to the tennis world as Iga Swiatek, the clay-court titan and World No. 2, suffered a stunning 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Coco Gauff in the semifinals. The lopsided scoreline, one of Swiatek’s worst on her favored surface, sent ripples through the sport, prompting former World No. 1 Andy Roddick to voice serious concerns about her form heading into the French Open, set to begin May 25, 2025. On his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion dissected the match and highlighted troubling signs for the five-time Grand Slam winner, while also praising Gauff’s commanding performance.
Swiatek, who has dominated Roland Garros with four titles, entered Madrid as a favorite to reclaim the crown she won in 2024. Her journey to the semifinals included hard-fought victories over Alexandra Eala, Linda Nosková, Diana Shnaider, and Madison Keys, three of which went to deciding sets. Yet, against Gauff, Swiatek unraveled. She won just 35% of points on her first serve, managed only one ace, and committed a barrage of forehand errors. “Swiatek was out of sorts. She really looked like she was struggling on her forehand,” noted former British player Colin Fleming, echoing the sentiment of many observers. Roddick, however, dug deeper, calling the loss a “cause for concern” given Swiatek’s trophy-less 2025 season and her recent challenges off the court.
Roddick acknowledged Gauff’s brilliance, describing the match as a “statement win” for the 21-year-old American. “Great week for Coco. You beat the person who’s been your toughest matchup on their surface,” he said. Gauff’s aggressive play, backed by six aces and zero double faults in the first set, overwhelmed Swiatek, forcing her into “awkward positions,” as Gauff herself noted post-match. Roddick credited Gauff’s improved serve and forehand, saying, “A lot of this is about Coco’s serve and Coco’s forehand and where she is playing. She is playing ahead in the rally point.” This victory marked Gauff’s third consecutive win over Swiatek, flipping a rivalry that Swiatek once led 11-1.
For Swiatek, the defeat was more than a bad day. Roddick pointed to broader issues, including her emotional and mental state. The 23-year-old has faced a turbulent year, from a doping controversy involving a positive test for trimetazidine—later deemed a result of contaminated melatonin—to a coaching change after parting with Tomasz Wiktorowski. “My only concern for Iga Swiatek at scale is how she lands in Australia and how she deals with the questions,” Roddick had said earlier in the season, referencing the media scrutiny she faced. That pressure seems to have carried into the clay season, with Swiatek visibly emotional during the Madrid match, covering her face with a towel at 6-1, 3-0 down.
Roddick also questioned whether Swiatek can reassert her dominance on clay, a surface where she’s been nearly untouchable. “Iga’s so good, she loses sometimes, that’s the criticism,” he remarked, but warned against underestimating her. Her 20-match winning streak at Roland Garros and a 4-1 clay record against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka underscore her prowess. Yet, with no titles since her 2024 French Open triumph and a reported consideration to skip the grass season if she doesn’t win in Paris, the stakes are high. “I’m not the one who’s going to get hyperbolic about Iga on clay too quickly,” Roddick cautioned, but admitted the Madrid result was troubling, especially given Swiatek’s forehand woes against Gauff’s pace.
Swiatek’s next test is the Italian Open, where she’ll defend her title before heading to Roland Garros. Roddick remains optimistic about her long-term prospects, predicting she’ll “win nine French Opens and three or four other majors.” However, he emphasized the need for mental resilience. “She’s sensitive, you can see her emote more,” he noted, contrasting her with the stoic Jannik Sinner. As Swiatek prepares for Paris, where she’s still the favorite, the tennis world watches closely. Can she shake off this setback and reclaim her clay-court throne, or will Gauff and Sabalenka continue to challenge her reign? For now, Roddick’s concerns linger, but so does his belief in Swiatek’s enduring greatness.
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