As the tennis world turns its gaze to the red clay of Roland Garros for the 2025 French Open, Iga Swiatek, the four-time champion, faces an unusual challenge: entering as the No. 2 seed, her lowest seeding at the tournament since 2021. Yet, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, remains unfazed, offering a spirited defense of the Polish star’s prospects. Stubbs, a respected voice in tennis, insists that Swiatek’s recent struggles and the looming threat of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka should not overshadow her unmatched clay court prowess. With a dominant 27-2 record on clay over the past year and a legacy that echoes the greats, Swiatek is poised to reclaim her throne in Paris, seeding be damned, as she aims for a fifth French Open title to surpass Serena Williams’ mark and close in on Chris Evert’s record of seven.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by deep tournament runs but no titles since her commanding 2024 French Open victory over Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-1. Early exits in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, coupled with a shocking quarterfinal loss to Alexandra Eala at the Miami Open, have raised eyebrows. Her semifinal defeat to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and a doping ban that sidelined her for Asian tournaments further dented her momentum, dropping her to No. 4 in the live WTA Race to Riyadh. Yet, Stubbs sees these setbacks as temporary. “I think I may have nailed this prediction. Congrats @iga_swiatek and team!” she remarked last year, recalling her confidence in Swiatek’s ability to rebound from a near-upset against Naomi Osaka in 2024’s second round. That resilience, Stubbs argues, will carry Swiatek through Paris, where clay remains her “second home.”
The lower seeding pits Swiatek against a tougher path, potentially facing Sabalenka, the top seed, or No. 3 Jessica Pegula before the final. Sabalenka, fresh off a 2025 Australian Open title and a Madrid Open final, poses a formidable challenge with her aggressive baseline game. “I think her movement is incredible,” Sabalenka said of Swiatek. “You always know that you have to build the point and you have to finish the point. It’s not going to be an easy point anyway.” However, Stubbs believes Swiatek’s mental fortitude and clay court mastery give her an edge. “Absolutely, I think there’s a little bit of concern. Can she get it back and right the ship in Madrid, Rome and the French for sure? But if she doesn’t, yes, I do worry about her psyche going forward because her game is so predicated on confidence,” Stubbs noted, emphasizing that a strong start in Paris could restore Swiatek’s swagger.
Swiatek’s clay court dominance is undeniable. Her 2024 sweep of Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros made her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to conquer all three in a single season. Her 15-2 record at the Madrid Open matches Williams’ efficiency, and her 88.2% win rate there underscores her comfort on the surface. “I’m happy with my focus and my attitude,” Swiatek said after a 2025 Madrid win over Linda Noskova, a sentiment she’ll need to channel in Paris. Despite recent losses to players like Coco Gauff (6-1, 6-1 in Madrid) and Danielle Collins (6-1, 7-5 in Rome), Swiatek’s 22-4 finals record and five Grand Slam titles, including four at Roland Garros, signal her readiness. Chris Evert, whose seven French Open titles Swiatek chases, predicted, “I think Iga will end up on double digits. I don’t just think she will beat my record here. I think it’s double digits.”
Stubbs also points to Swiatek’s new coaching dynamic with Wim Fissette, who replaced Tomasz Wiktorowski in 2024, as a potential catalyst. “I think it’ll go great because Wim will come in with new ideas,” Stubbs said, praising Fissette’s positive approach for a player she described as “pretty uptight.” Fissette, who guided Naomi Osaka to Grand Slam glory, could help Swiatek navigate mental hurdles, especially after controversies like the 2025 Australian Open double-bounce incident against Emma Navarro, where Swiatek was criticized for poor sportsmanship. “Swiatek without doubt knew that it was a double bounce,” one fan claimed, though Stubbs defended her, arguing human error over malice. Swiatek herself dismissed the incident’s impact, saying, “Well, for sure it gives me the feeling that I should always believe in myself, that I can find my tennis even if I’m in big trouble.”
As Swiatek prepares for Roland Garros, starting May 25, 2025, the tennis world watches eagerly. Her 2024 French Open run, where she saved a match point against Osaka and stormed to the title, proved her clutch performance under pressure. “I’ll always try my best no matter what the score is,” she said, a mantra that defines her approach. With Evert and Martina Navratilova, both 18-time Grand Slam champions, cheering her on last year, Swiatek carries a legacy of expectation. Whether she faces Sabalenka, Pegula, or rising stars like Eala, her clay court DNA—forged through four titles in five years—makes her a favorite, seeding or not. Stubbs’ confidence in Swiatek’s ability to “right the ship” reflects a belief that Paris will once again be the stage for the Polish star to reclaim her crown and inch closer to tennis immortality.
# Iga Swiatek’s French Open Prospects Shine Despite Lower Seeding, Says Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach
As the tennis world turns its gaze to the red clay of Roland Garros for the 2025 French Open, Iga Swiatek, the four-time champion, faces an unusual challenge: entering as the No. 2 seed, her lowest seeding at the tournament since 2021. Yet, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, remains unfazed, offering a spirited defense of the Polish star’s prospects. Stubbs, a respected voice in tennis, insists that Swiatek’s recent struggles and the looming threat of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka should not overshadow her unmatched clay court prowess. With a dominant 27-2 record on clay over the past year and a legacy that echoes the greats, Swiatek is poised to reclaim her throne in Paris, seeding be damned, as she aims for a fifth French Open title to surpass Serena Williams’ mark and close in on Chris Evert’s record of seven.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by deep tournament runs but no titles since her commanding 2024 French Open victory over Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-1. Early exits in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, coupled with a shocking quarterfinal loss to Alexandra Eala at the Miami Open, have raised eyebrows. Her semifinal defeat to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and a doping ban that sidelined her for Asian tournaments further dented her momentum, dropping her to No. 4 in the live WTA Race to Riyadh. Yet, Stubbs sees these setbacks as temporary. “I think I may have nailed this prediction. Congrats @iga_swiatek and team!” she remarked last year, recalling her confidence in Swiatek’s ability to rebound from a near-upset against Naomi Osaka in 2024’s second round. That resilience, Stubbs argues, will carry Swiatek through Paris, where clay remains her “second home.”
The lower seeding pits Swiatek against a tougher path, potentially facing Sabalenka, the top seed, or No. 3 Jessica Pegula before the final. Sabalenka, fresh off a 2025 Australian Open title and a Madrid Open final, poses a formidable challenge with her aggressive baseline game. “I think her movement is incredible,” Sabalenka said of Swiatek. “You always know that you have to build the point and you have to finish the point. It’s not going to be an easy point anyway.” However, Stubbs believes Swiatek’s mental fortitude and clay court mastery give her an edge. “Absolutely, I think there’s a little bit of concern. Can she get it back and right the ship in Madrid, Rome and the French for sure? But if she doesn’t, yes, I do worry about her psyche going forward because her game is so predicated on confidence,” Stubbs noted, emphasizing that a strong start in Paris could restore Swiatek’s swagger.
Swiatek’s clay court dominance is undeniable. Her 2024 sweep of Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros made her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to conquer all three in a single season. Her 15-2 record at the Madrid Open matches Williams’ efficiency, and her 88.2% win rate there underscores her comfort on the surface. “I’m happy with my focus and my attitude,” Swiatek said after a 2025 Madrid win over Linda Noskova, a sentiment she’ll need to channel in Paris. Despite recent losses to players like Coco Gauff (6-1, 6-1 in Madrid) and Danielle Collins (6-1, 7-5 in Rome), Swiatek’s 22-4 finals record and five Grand Slam titles, including four at Roland Garros, signal her readiness. Chris Evert, whose seven French Open titles Swiatek chases, predicted, “I think Iga will end up on double digits. I don’t just think she will beat my record here. I think it’s double digits.”
Stubbs also points to Swiatek’s new coaching dynamic with Wim Fissette, who replaced Tomasz Wiktorowski in 2024, as a potential catalyst. “I think it’ll go great because Wim will come in with new ideas,” Stubbs said, praising Fissette’s positive approach for a player she described as “pretty uptight.” Fissette, who guided Naomi Osaka to Grand Slam glory, could help Swiatek navigate mental hurdles, especially after controversies like the 2025 Australian Open double-bounce incident against Emma Navarro, where Swiatek was criticized for poor sportsmanship. “Swiatek without doubt knew that it was a double bounce,” one fan claimed, though Stubbs defended her, arguing human error over malice. Swiatek herself dismissed the incident’s impact, saying, “Well, for sure it gives me the feeling that I should always believe in myself, that I can find my tennis even if I’m in big trouble.”
As Swiatek prepares for Roland Garros, starting May 25, 2025, the tennis world watches eagerly. Her 2024 French Open run, where she saved a match point against Osaka and stormed to the title, proved her clutch performance under pressure. “I’ll always try my best no matter what the score is,” she said, a mantra that defines her approach. With Evert and Martina Navratilova, both 18-time Grand Slam champions, cheering her on last year, Swiatek carries a legacy of expectation. Whether she faces Sabalenka, Pegula, or rising stars like Eala, her clay court DNA—forged through four titles in five years—makes her a favorite, seeding or not. Stubbs’ confidence in Swiatek’s ability to “right the ship” reflects a belief that Paris will once again be the stage for the Polish star to reclaim her crown and inch closer to tennis immortality.
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