PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 24, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

One of the biggest storylines to emerge from Thursday’s Roland-Garros draw ceremony at L’Orangerie, near Court Simonne-Mathieu, concerned defending champion Iga Swiatek‘s luck – or lack of good fortune – of the draw.

The four-time French Open champion, who has won the last three consecutive women’s singles titles on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier at Stade Roland-Garros, arrived in Paris this week low on confidence. That’s because for the first time since she won her maiden Roland-Garros title in 2020, as an unheralded 54th-ranked player from Poland, she has won zero titles this season – let alone one on clay. Not for a lack of trying, mind you.

“Every year is different, but for sure, you look ahead to the future,” the World No. 5 Swiatek said during her on-stage interview with Marc Maury during the draw ceremony. “I’m proud of my achievements here. I have great memories from last year.”

Twelve months ago, Swiatek defeated Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-1, for her 19th straight victory and a sweep of clay titles in Madrid, Rome and Paris. Earlier in 2024, she had won titles at Doha and Indian Wells on hard courts.

Coming into Roland-Garros this season, where she holds an incredible 35-2 lifetime win-loss record, Swiatek was a quarterfinalist at Stuttgart on indoor clay before losing to eventual-champion Jelena Ostapenko. Then, she reached the semifinals at Madrid before losing to eventual-finalist Coco Gauff. Most recently, she lost in the third round to Danielle Collins at Rome. She’s 23-8 on the season, which includes three semifinal finishes on hard courts: Melbourne, Doha and Indian Wells.

With the former World No. 1 now ranked fifth, it means she could potentially have to beat three of the top four players in the world just to stand on the podium in two weeks to receive the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen. She’s in the second quarter of the French Open draw and will put a 21-match winning streak at Roland-Garros on the line when she walks out on court for her first match of the Parisian fortnight. Her last loss in Paris came in 2021 against Maria Sakari, in straight sets, in the quarterfinal round.

“Every [Roland-Garros] tournament has been a different story. I’ve learned a lot,” Swiatek said. “It’s always a pleasure to come back here and to play on these courts. They are the best courts to play on.”

Great to have you back, champ #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/D2MnvYamqJ

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 22, 2025

Swiatek could meet her greatest rival, the top-seeded and current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, in what would be their second Grand Slam meeting. However, just to get that far, the 23-year-old from Warsaw, would in short order need to secure consecutive victories over: No. 41 Rebecca Sramkova in the first round, former US Open champion and current No. 43 Emma Raducanu in the second round, and No. 26 seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round.

Next, fellow French Open champion and this year’s 21st seed Ostapenko or No. 12 seed Elena Rybakina would be next for Swiatek in the fourth round. Consider this: Swiatek is 0-6 – including 0-2 this season – lifetime against Ostapenko and is 0-2 on clay against Rybakina.

Then, Swiatek could oppose recent Rome winner and fourth seed Paolini, whom she defeated in last year’s final, in the quarterfinal round. If she comes out on top in each of these five challenges, then she would get to meet Sabalenka. As for an opponent in the final, how about none other than World No. 2 Gauff or No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who are both looking to win Roland-Garros for the first time. Swiatek lost to Gauff, 6-1, 6-1, in the recent Madrid semifinals.

Queen on clay #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/rb6FQTkRkZ

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 22, 2025

“I think this is a nightmarish draw for Swiatek at a time when that is not what she needs,” Catherine Whitaker, co-host of The Tennis Podcast said Thursday from Paris, after the draw was released.

Matt Roberts, another co-host of The Tennis Podcast added: “The one name she didn’t want to see – Ostapenko – who has beaten her every single time they’ve played, is in her section, a potential fourth-round opponent. So that in itself is a bit of a nightmare. When you add the other names that have come out in her draw, collectively, it looks really hard as well.”

Regardless of her draw and circumstances, Swiatek has always been one to rise to the occasion in Paris. Despite being ranked outside the Top 4 for the first time in over three years, the Polish star is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead. “Obviously, everyone is here to win. I’m working hard to get ready and to play as good tennis as possible,” she said.

“For sure, this season has had more ups and downs than years before, but I know my game is there. I’ll figure out how to use it in the most important moments and in the best way during the matches.

“Tennis is sometimes a complicated sport but we should make it easy in our heads. I’ll just start step by step.”

At her Media Day news conference on Friday afternoon, Swiatek shared her positivity with reporters. She concluded: “I want to be more positive about what I’m doing and not focus too much on the mistakes a little bit and kind of just go for it. Be more brave.”

Roland-Garros prep rolls on #RolandGarros @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/mslj7Lcage

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2025