On a sunlit afternoon at Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, the four-time French Open champion, delivered a performance that will be etched in tennis lore, staging a dramatic comeback to defeat former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a thrilling 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 fourth-round battle on June 1, 2025. The Polish star, whose dominance on Parisian clay has been near-unassailable, faced her toughest test yet, rebounding from a lopsided first set to secure her 25th consecutive victory at the tournament. Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, hailed Swiatek’s resilience, declaring, “Iga Swiatek showed the heart of a champion,” a testament to her mental fortitude and tactical brilliance in a match that could prove pivotal in her quest for a fourth straight French Open title.
The match began with Rybakina, ranked World No. 4, unleashing a barrage of flat, powerful shots that left Swiatek reeling. The Kazakh, fresh off a title in Strasbourg and a semifinal run at the 2024 Wimbledon, dominated the first set, winning 6-1 in just 26 minutes by allowing Swiatek only nine points. “The first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,” Swiatek admitted, her candor reflecting the overwhelming pace of Rybakina’s attack. The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier, sensing an upset, buzzed with anticipation as Rybakina broke early in the second set to lead 2-0. But Swiatek, guided by her new coach Wim Fissette, made a critical adjustment, standing deeper to counter Rybakina’s blistering serve. “I think the coaching actually really helped me today, because I wouldn’t have come up with this myself,” she said, crediting Fissette for the tactical shift that gave her the breathing room to regroup.
Swiatek’s resilience shone in the second set, where she surfed into a forehand pass to spark an 11-point run, flipping a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead before closing it out 6-3. The third set was a rollercoaster, with both players trading breaks. At 4-4, a controversial moment arose when Rybakina’s second serve was initially called long, prompting the players to head toward their chairs. Umpire Kader Nouni’s inspection overturned the call, granting Rybakina a first serve. “I didn’t maybe risk it where I had to, and played a little bit passive in some important moments,” Rybakina reflected, acknowledging how the reprieve allowed her to hold for 5-4. Yet Swiatek, undeterred, broke back at 5-5 and sealed the match with a forehand crosscourt winner on her second match point. “It means a lot,” Swiatek said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I needed that kind of win to feel I’m able to win under pressure, even if it’s not going the right way. It’s a great confirmation.”
This victory marked a turning point for Swiatek, who had endured a challenging 2025 season, failing to win a title since her 2024 French Open triumph. Losses to Mirra Andreeva in Dubai and Indian Wells, and a doping suspension that dropped her to No. 5 in the WTA rankings, tested her resolve. Yet, on the clay where she has reigned supreme, Swiatek rediscovered her mojo. “Iga on the dirt I feel can regain her mental magic as she can slide and time is on her side,” Macci had predicted earlier in the clay season, a prophecy fulfilled as Swiatek outmaneuvered Rybakina’s aggressive style. Her 19-3 record in 2025, including 10 WTA 1000 titles and a 59.4% quarterfinal appearance rate in such events, underscores her enduring prowess.
Rybakina, despite the loss, showcased her best Grand Slam performance since her 2024 Wimbledon semifinal, her flat-hitting style a persistent challenge for Swiatek, who trails their head-to-head 2-4. “It’s been a great last two weeks,” Rybakina said, drawing positives from her recent form. For Swiatek, the win sets up a quarterfinal clash against either Jessica Pegula or Lois Boisson, with a potential semifinal against Coco Gauff looming. As she chases a historic fifth French Open title, surpassing Serena Williams’ four, Swiatek’s ability to problem-solve under pressure, as Macci noted, makes her a formidable force. With Paris still buzzing from PSG’s Champions League triumph, Swiatek’s heart-pounding victory has added another chapter to her clay-court legacy, proving she remains the queen of Roland Garros.
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