On a sunlit afternoon at Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, the four-time French Open champion, delivered a breathtaking display of resilience, clawing her way back from the edge of defeat to overcome Elena Rybakina in a thrilling fourth-round match on June 1, 2025. The 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory, which lasted two and a half hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, marked Swiatek’s 25th consecutive win in Paris and kept her dream of a fourth straight French Open title alive. Yet, despite this heroic escape, the Polish star finds herself teetering on the brink of a seismic rankings collapse, with her No. 5 position in the WTA live rankings under threat as she defends 2,000 points from last year’s triumph. The match against Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, underscored both Swiatek’s champion’s mentality and the vulnerabilities that have plagued her 2025 season.
The match began with a shocking display of Rybakina’s power, as she stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first set, leaving Swiatek reeling. “The first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,” Swiatek admitted, her words capturing the relentless aggression of Rybakina’s flat, punishing groundstrokes. The Kazakh’s blistering start, which saw her win the set 6-1 and break early in the second, evoked memories of Swiatek’s recent struggles, including heavy losses to Danielle Collins in Rome and Coco Gauff in Madrid. With 27 unforced errors in the first nine games, Swiatek appeared out of sorts on the clay she has dominated for years. “I needed to do something to get back into the game,” she said, reflecting on her dire 1-6, 0-2 deficit. A tactical adjustment, inspired by coach Wim Fissette, proved pivotal. “I think the coaching actually really helped me today,” Swiatek noted, crediting her decision to stand deeper on returns to counter Rybakina’s booming serve. “It’s still a weird thing for me to do.”
The turning point came when Rybakina missed a crucial smash at the net, allowing Swiatek to break back and level the second set at 2-2. From there, the Pole’s trademark forehand began to find its range, and she surged to a 6-3 set win, rediscovering the spin and aggression that have made her the “Queen of Clay.” The third set was a rollercoaster, with both players trading breaks and Rybakina’s powerful backhand sending Swiatek’s racket flying in a dramatic moment. “She really pushed me,” Swiatek said, acknowledging the high level of the contest. Trailing 4-5, Swiatek summoned her resolve, winning the final three games, including a decisive break at 5-5 when Rybakina netted a forehand. “I’m glad it worked,” Swiatek said of her forehand, which produced fiery winners to seal the match. Her 39-2 record at Roland Garros, matching Chris Evert’s Open Era dominance, now includes a perfect 5-0 mark in three-setters at the tournament.
Despite the victory, Swiatek’s rankings crisis looms large. Her slide from No. 1 to No. 5 over the past year, exacerbated by title-less runs in Madrid and Rome, has left her vulnerable. A loss to Rybakina could have dropped her to No. 8 in the live WTA rankings, a staggering fall for a player who held the top spot for over 100 weeks. Jasmine Paolini, currently No. 4, could overtake her unless Swiatek reaches the final, as the 2,000 points from her 2024 title are at stake. “It means a lot to win,” Swiatek said, aware that her comeback preserved not just her title defense but also her top-five status for now. Rybakina, ranked No. 12, entered Paris on a nine-match win streak after claiming the Strasbourg title, her first in over a year. Her 2-0 clay record against Swiatek, including wins in Stuttgart 2024 and Rome 2023, made her a formidable threat, yet Swiatek’s adaptability secured her first clay victory over the Kazakh.
As Swiatek advances to face Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, her 2025 struggles—marked by uncharacteristic errors under pressure and questions about Fissette’s impact—remain a concern. Rybakina, reflecting on the loss, pinpointed her missed volley as a turning point, admitting, “I struggled to maintain the intensity of the first set.” For Swiatek, the match was a testament to her resilience, but the rankings pressure persists. With a 68% win probability against Rybakina, per predictive models, she defied the odds, but her path to a fifth French Open title demands sustained brilliance. As she navigates this precarious moment, Swiatek’s ability to harness her forehand and mental fortitude on her favorite court could determine whether she reclaims her dominance or faces a rankings freefall.
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