As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the hallowed clay of Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending women’s champion, remains a beacon of composure amid swirling discussions about scheduling disparities. The 23-year-old Polish star, ranked world No. 5, kicked off her title defense with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Rebecca Sramkova in the first round, extending her remarkable 22-match winning streak at the tournament. Yet, post-match chatter shifted to the French Open’s scheduling, which has favored men’s matches for the coveted night sessions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. When asked about this apparent preference for male players, Swiatek offered a characteristically blunt response: “I don’t mind.” Her focus, as always, is on her game, not the spotlight, as she pursues a historic fourth consecutive Roland Garros crown.
The scheduling debate has been a recurring theme at Roland Garros, with men’s matches dominating the evening slots. On the tournament’s opening day, following an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, American Ben Shelton faced Lorenzo Sonego under the lights, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner took on Arthur Rinderknech the following night. In contrast, Swiatek’s first-round match was scheduled as the day’s opening clash on Chatrier, a pattern where women’s matches often occupy earlier slots. “Every year we talk about it. My position didn’t change. I like playing day. So I’m happy I’m done and can have a longer rest,” Swiatek said during her press conference, shrugging off the notion that night sessions offer a “bigger stage.” Her preference for daytime play, she explained, aligns with her routine, allowing her to recover and prepare meticulously—a hallmark of the mental discipline that has defined her clay-court dominance.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been turbulent, marked by a doping suspension, a coaching change, and a drop from world No. 1 to No. 5. Yet, her affinity for Roland Garros remains unshaken. “I just don’t know how Iga is going to react. That, to me, is the unknown,” tennis legend Chris Evert remarked, noting Swiatek’s brilliance at the tournament despite her “C game” this year. Since her 2020 maiden title as an unseeded teenager, Swiatek has won four of the last five French Opens, boasting a 35-2 career record on Parisian clay. Her latest victory showcased her signature topspin-heavy forehand and relentless footwork, though she admitted to early resistance from Sramkova. “For sure it hasn’t been easy,” she said of her season, which included a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing by Coco Gauff in Madrid and a third-round exit to Danielle Collins in Rome. Still, Swiatek’s focus remains razor-sharp: “I’m making decisions that are not really good at the moment because I just remember how it felt in previous tournaments or previous years.”
Her mental resilience, honed with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz since 2019, has been a cornerstone of her success. Swiatek’s ability to stay in the moment—evident in her 2024 thriller against Naomi Osaka, where she saved a match point—sets her apart. “I was just overwhelmed with emotions,” she recalled of that near-defeat, a stark contrast to her composed first-round performance this year. Off the court, Swiatek has faced scrutiny, from a doping controversy to criticism for showing emotion, like nearly hitting a ball boy at Indian Wells. “When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot, my attitude labelled as inhuman,” she wrote in a March 2025 Instagram post, addressing the double standards. “Now that I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labelled immature or hysterical.”
As she prepares to face Emma Raducanu in the second round, Swiatek’s path to a fifth Roland Garros title is daunting, with potential clashes against Marta Kostyuk, Elena Rybakina, or Aryna Sabalenka looming. Yet, her love for the tournament endures. “I like playing during the day, so it’s comfortable for me that I can be scheduled that way,” she said last year, acknowledging the complex factors behind scheduling, like prioritizing French players for night sessions. Swiatek’s unflappable demeanor, paired with her clay-court prowess, makes her a formidable contender, even as an underdog for the first time since 2020. “It’s not like you have one recipe of how you should do this,” she said of adapting to challenges, a mindset that could carry her far in Paris. As the tennis world debates fairness, Swiatek’s focus remains singular: lifting the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup again, proving that on clay, she’s still the one to beat.
# Iga Swiatek’s Unshaken Focus: Defending Champion Brushes Off French Open Scheduling Debate
As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the hallowed clay of Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending women’s champion, remains a beacon of composure amid swirling discussions about scheduling disparities. The 23-year-old Polish star, ranked world No. 5, kicked off her title defense with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Rebecca Sramkova in the first round, extending her remarkable 22-match winning streak at the tournament. Yet, post-match chatter shifted to the French Open’s scheduling, which has favored men’s matches for the coveted night sessions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. When asked about this apparent preference for male players, Swiatek offered a characteristically blunt response: “I don’t mind.” Her focus, as always, is on her game, not the spotlight, as she pursues a historic fourth consecutive Roland Garros crown.
The scheduling debate has been a recurring theme at Roland Garros, with men’s matches dominating the evening slots. On the tournament’s opening day, following an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, American Ben Shelton faced Lorenzo Sonego under the lights, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner took on Arthur Rinderknech the following night. In contrast, Swiatek’s first-round match was scheduled as the day’s opening clash on Chatrier, a pattern where women’s matches often occupy earlier slots. “Every year we talk about it. My position didn’t change. I like playing day. So I’m happy I’m done and can have a longer rest,” Swiatek said during her press conference, shrugging off the notion that night sessions offer a “bigger stage.” Her preference for daytime play, she explained, aligns with her routine, allowing her to recover and prepare meticulously—a hallmark of the mental discipline that has defined her clay-court dominance.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been turbulent, marked by a doping suspension, a coaching change, and a drop from world No. 1 to No. 5. Yet, her affinity for Roland Garros remains unshaken. “I just don’t know how Iga is going to react. That, to me, is the unknown,” tennis legend Chris Evert remarked, noting Swiatek’s brilliance at the tournament despite her “C game” this year. Since her 2020 maiden title as an unseeded teenager, Swiatek has won four of the last five French Opens, boasting a 35-2 career record on Parisian clay. Her latest victory showcased her signature topspin-heavy forehand and relentless footwork, though she admitted to early resistance from Sramkova. “For sure it hasn’t been easy,” she said of her season, which included a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing by Coco Gauff in Madrid and a third-round exit to Danielle Collins in Rome. Still, Swiatek’s focus remains razor-sharp: “I’m making decisions that are not really good at the moment because I just remember how it felt in previous tournaments or previous years.”
Her mental resilience, honed with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz since 2019, has been a cornerstone of her success. Swiatek’s ability to stay in the moment—evident in her 2024 thriller against Naomi Osaka, where she saved a match point—sets her apart. “I was just overwhelmed with emotions,” she recalled of that near-defeat, a stark contrast to her composed first-round performance this year. Off the court, Swiatek has faced scrutiny, from a doping controversy to criticism for showing emotion, like nearly hitting a ball boy at Indian Wells. “When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot, my attitude labelled as inhuman,” she wrote in a March 2025 Instagram post, addressing the double standards. “Now that I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labelled immature or hysterical.”
As she prepares to face Emma Raducanu in the second round, Swiatek’s path to a fifth Roland Garros title is daunting, with potential clashes against Marta Kostyuk, Elena Rybakina, or Aryna Sabalenka looming. Yet, her love for the tournament endures. “I like playing during the day, so it’s comfortable for me that I can be scheduled that way,” she said last year, acknowledging the complex factors behind scheduling, like prioritizing French players for night sessions. Swiatek’s unflappable demeanor, paired with her clay-court prowess, makes her a formidable contender, even as an underdog for the first time since 2020. “It’s not like you have one recipe of how you should do this,” she said of adapting to challenges, a mindset that could carry her far in Paris. As the tennis world debates fairness, Swiatek’s focus remains singular: lifting the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup again, proving that on clay, she’s still the one to beat.
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