In the midst of her quest for a historic fourth consecutive French Open title, Iga Swiatek, the Polish tennis sensation, delivered a moment of levity that stole the spotlight during a post-match press conference at Roland Garros on May 30, 2025. After a hard-fought victory over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian (6-2, 7-5) in the third round, Swiatek was asked about her preference for her next opponent—either Elena Rybakina or Jelena Ostapenko, who were battling it out on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The 23-year-old’s attempt to maintain a poker face quickly unraveled, leading to a hilarious exchange that showcased her charm and candor. “Am I a good liar?” she quipped, bursting into laughter. “Let’s say it doesn’t matter… Oh my god, I couldn’t play poker,” she added, her giggles betraying her true feelings.
Swiatek’s lighthearted moment came as she navigated the high stakes of defending her title on the Parisian clay, where she boasts an impressive 24-match winning streak. The question about her next opponent was loaded with context: Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, holds an unblemished 6-0 head-to-head record against Swiatek, including a recent victory on clay in Stuttgart earlier this season. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, presents a more balanced challenge with a 4-4 record against the Pole. When pressed by a journalist with, “Do you have a preference?” Swiatek initially responded with a deadpan “No,” before her infectious laughter revealed her preference to avoid her Latvian nemesis. “I couldn’t fake poker,” she confessed, endearing herself to fans and media alike with her transparency.
The match against Cristian had tested Swiatek’s resilience. After dominating the first set 6-2, she faced a spirited comeback from the World No. 60, who pushed the second set to a tense 7-5 finish. Swiatek’s ability to stay composed under pressure was evident, as she sealed the victory without conceding free points in the final game. “I’m just happy that I was super solid in the last game and didn’t give any free points,” she reflected afterward. “It was a great match, and I think pretty entertaining. We both played nice; I’m happy I’m through and happy with the performance.” Her focus and adaptability on the court echoed the mental toughness she’s honed under the guidance of her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, who has been a constant presence during a challenging year.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been anything but smooth. After losing her World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka and enduring a one-month doping suspension in late 2024—deemed unintentional due to contaminated melatonin—she faced intense scrutiny. “The second half of last year was extremely challenging for me,” she admitted in a recent social media post, revealing she spent “three weeks crying daily” as her career hung in the balance. Despite these setbacks, her performance at Roland Garros signals a return to form. Her victory over Cristian tied her with Chris Evert for the most match wins (38) at the clay-court Major after 40 matches, a testament to her dominance on the surface.
As fate would have it, Rybakina emerged victorious over Ostapenko with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 scoreline, setting up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with Swiatek on Sunday. While Swiatek may have dodged her “bogeywoman” Ostapenko, Rybakina poses a formidable challenge, having split their eight previous encounters. The tennis world buzzed with anticipation, with fans on social media platforms noting Swiatek’s relief. “Iga’s face said it all—she did NOT want Ostapenko,” one fan posted, capturing the sentiment of her candid moment.
Swiatek’s journey at Roland Garros is about more than just titles; it’s a testament to her resilience and growth. As she aims to become the first woman since Suzanne Lenglen to win four consecutive French Open titles
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