Iga Świątek Finds Balance and Success at French Open

Paris has been kind to Iga Świątek. The four-time French Open champion is thriving on the red clay with favorable weather enhancing her topspin forehand. Luck has favored her as well; she dodged a tough third-round opponent, Jelena Ostapenko, thanks to Ostapenko’s loss to Magda Linette. Further openings in the draw occurred when Elena Rybakina, a potential semifinal rival, was unexpectedly defeated by Yulia Starodubtseva. With remaining challenges such as No. 8 Mirra Andreeva, Świątek is ready to capitalize on these opportunities.

Świątek feels clear-minded after a period of uncertainty earlier in the year. She expressed improvement in her decision-making, which she attributes to her new coach, Francisco Roig. She is set to face Marta Kostyuk in the fourth round, with a solid 3-0 record against her.

Świątek previously struggled after losing her No. 2 ranking following a disappointing outing at Indian Wells and a surprising loss in Miami to Linette, breaking her 73-match winning streak in opening matches. This period of struggle was marked by indecision and a tendency to overhit. Her shifting styles between former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski’s direct approach and Wim Fisette’s patient strategy left her caught in between.

Świątek reached the semifinals at the 2025 Australian Open and won Wimbledon, yet mixed performances followed. Her serve lacked the power to earn free points, requiring her to rally for each victory and leading to pressure that often resulted in errors. Following her loss to Linette, Świątek ended her partnership with Fisette and aimed to be more resilient on the court.

Training in Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca provided Świątek with a fresh start. With Roig, a former coach of Nadal, Świątek found a balance in training. Roig’s humor and approach to coaching resonated with her. Under his guidance, Świątek focused on longer rallies, helping her regain confidence in her game.

Roig also adjusted Świątek’s footwork, emphasizing a stable stance and fluidity. This renewed focus on footwork brought back stability for Świątek, crucial for her known agility. Her second-round match against Sara Bejlek at the French Open showed progress, despite not being perfect, enabling Świątek to control the game.

Świątek demonstrated adaptability in her third-round win over Linette, a measure of growth since the coaching change. Her challenges remain, but Świątek has improved in using intuition and rational decision-making. She moved away from rushed plays, ensuring she could sustain rallies without feeling pressured to end them immediately.

As cooler weather arrives at Roland Garros, Świątek faces new variables. Confident in her adjustments, Świątek is optimistic that one good week can lead to success in the coming rounds.