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Swiatek saves match point to beat Osaka in thriller

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Iga Swiatek

Defending champion Iga Swiatek saved a match point before beating Naomi Osaka to avoid the earliest French Open exit of her career in a second-round thriller in Paris.

The 22-year-old Pole, who is bidding for a third successive title, fought back to win 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 7-5.

Former world number one Osaka only returned to the sport four months ago after having daughter Shai and has previously struggled on clay.

However, the 26-year-old from Japan pushed top seed Swiatek all the way in an absorbing encounter under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof – but paid the price for not converting her chance.

“That was intense, more intense than I expected for a second-round match,” said Swiatek.

“We played some amazing tennis.”

Swiatek has developed into the WTA Tour’s most dominant player since Serena Williams and her record on clay is particularly formidable.

Escaping defeat against Osaka – whose four major titles all came on hard courts – means Swiatek has lost just two of her 32 matches at Roland Garros.

She has only lost once on clay this season, having won back-to-back titles in Madrid and Rome before heading to Paris.

In contrast, Osaka has never been the most comfortable on the surface and described herself last month as still being a “baby giraffe” on it.

However Osaka, who grew up playing on hard courts in New York and Florida, has been wholeheartedly embracing the challenge of adapting her game to the clay.

This was an example of how the world number 134 still possesses a hard-hitting game which can test the best.

“I was watching Iga win this tournament last year and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her,” said Osaka.

“When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well. I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself.

“I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens.”

Osaka bamboozled Swiatek with her sheer power and fearless returning, cracking winners off both wings with ease.

Iga Swiatek

She was a point away from a 5-1 lead in the deciding set and, despite being unable to take that by putting a backhand into the net, still retained a commanding position as she closed in on a memorable victory.

But she became tight when serving out for the match at 5-3, missing three short balls on the way to handing back the break with a long backhand.

The edginess continued when a double fault on break point allowed Swiatek the opportunity to serve out victory.

Swiatek executed her shots when it mattered and was visibly relieved to avoid her first exit before the fourth round.

It preserves her bid to become only the third woman to win three successive French Open titles in the Open era after Monica Seles (1990-92) and Justine Henin (2005-07).

Jabeur survives scare to reach third round

Eighth seed Ons Jabeur survived a scare against Colombian Camila Osorio to reach the third round.

The 29-year-old Tunisian, a quarter-finalist last year, struggled for consistency in a match which saw 12 breaks of serve.

But, after Osorio had twice broken back in the deciding set, Jabeur held her nerve to serve out a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory.

Jabeur, seeking her maiden Grand Slam title, will meet Canadian 31st seed Leylah Fernandez or China’s Wang Xiyu next.

The three-time Grand Slam runner-up made the perfect start on Court Suzanne Lenglen, establishing a 3-0 lead with an early break.

Jabeur eventually took the first set following a run of four successive breaks – but 22-year-old Osorio mounted an impressive response in the second as her opponent faltered to swiftly level the match.

It was Jabeur who struck the first blow of the deciding set, yet twice the spirited Osorio responded to frustrate the world number nine.

However, Jabeur was able to refocus and after breaking Osorio again in the eighth game she served out the win at the first opportunity, the relief evident in her celebrations after coming through a testing encounter.

Later, American Coco Gauff beat Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 6-3 6-4.

Third seed Gauff, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2022, will take on Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska or China’s Wang Yafan

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Swiatek Eyes Place Among Greats With Fourth French Open Crown

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Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek said she is “confident” ahead of her bid to become only the fourth woman to win four Roland Garros singles titles in the Open era.

The world number one could also become the first player to lift three successive women’s titles in Paris since Justine Henin in 2007 when the French Open gets underway on Sunday.

Swiatek is a strong favourite after dominating on clay again this season, arriving in Paris off the back of WTA 1000 victories in Madrid and Rome.

The only female player in history to complete a Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros treble in the same season is Serena Williams.

But Swiatek, who faces French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in the first round, is not daunted by what she could achieve.

“I would lie if I would say I’m not nervous, because everybody is, I think,” Swiatek told reporters on Friday.

“There is a lot of pressure, especially when you play well and you already know that you can achieve this step, people are expecting it to happen again and again and again.

“So there is pressure, but I wouldn’t say I’m more nervous than usual… I’m also pretty confident with how I’m playing right now and with the work we have been doing.”

The 22-year-old Pole has plenty of years ahead of her to chase records but is wasting little time — her four WTA 1000 titles this season have taken her career total to 10.

That is already only 13 short of Serena Williams’ all-time record.

With four Grand Slam titles, Swiatek has not struggled to translate that form to the major tournaments in the past.

Swiatek is aiming to join Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Henin in lifting the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen four times in the Open era.

The biggest obstacle standing in her way is Aryna Sabalenka.

The Belarusian missed three match points before losing to Swiatek in a thrilling Madrid final and will be hoping to get another crack at her rival after a one-sided loss in Rome.

Sabalenka, the two-time reigning Australian Open champion, has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the past six Grand Slam events.

She is also the only woman to beat Swiatek in a final on clay — in Madrid last year — since the Pole lost her first WTA title decider as a teenager in 2019 at a low-key event in Switzerland.

Swiatek said she did not think her or Sabalenka were side-tracked by their rivalry.

“We’ll see if it’s going to go into the history books, because honestly, I don’t think either I or Aryna are focusing on that,” she added.

“But for sure this rivalry is exciting for the fans… . I think it’s also pushing me to become a better and better player, so I think we both kind of need each other to grow.”

Igi Swiatek

 

Swiatek ‘motivates’ Sabalenka –

Sabalenka has an 8-3 losing record against Swiatek, but insisted after Rome that she wanted to face her again in Paris.

“She (Swiatek) definitely motivates me a lot to get better, and I think I improve so many things just because of her,” said the world number two, who opens her campaign against Russian teenager Erika Andreeva.

“She kind of like pointed on the things I wasn’t good at, and motivated me to get better at.

“I think it’s just amazing what we are doing, and I really hope we can keep doing the same or even better.”

Sabalenka had never even reached the second week at Roland Garros until last year, when she was knocked out by Karolina Muchova in the semis.

“I’m definitely not the favourite probably there,” she said after the Rome Open final.

“But at the same time I do feel that I can actually go for it.

“It’s 50/50, you know? But I prefer to be underdog. I really hope I’m going to make it to the final and I really hope I’ll be able to get that win, if it’s Iga or not.”

Elena Rybakina, the only player to defeat Swiatek on clay this year, was being touted as part of a new ‘big three’ 12 months ago.

But the Kazakh has failed to make the last four at a Slam since losing the 2023 Australian Open final to Sabalenka and has been passed in the rankings by US Open champion Coco Gauff.

American Gauff, playing in a major for the first time since turning 20, will be hoping to go one better than when she lost the 2022 French Open showpiece to Swiatek.

Third seed Gauff faces Russian qualifier Julia Avdeeva in the first round, while Rybakina takes on Belgium’s Greet Minnen.

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Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek from winning the French Open?

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Iga Swiatek

Both Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek come into the French Open as top seeds attempting to defend their crowns in Paris, yet their preparations could not be more contradictory.

While Djokovic’s year has seen him go into something of a slump, with a poor 14-6 win-loss record and no finals made, Swiatek has gone from strength to strength, peaking in time to dominate on her preferred surface of clay, where she won titles in Madrid and Rome, the two biggest tournaments on the red dirt prior to Roland Garros.

This may yet be the most open French Open men’s draw in recent memory with Djokovic’s form, the injury troubles of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and the tentativeness on the big stage of the likes of Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas making it hard to pick a favourite.

But in the women’s draw, Swiatek leads, front and centre, setting the standard before a ball has even been hit. Her closest challenger, second seed and reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, lost to her in both finals in Madrid and Rome, the latter being a demoralising 2-6, 3-6 rollover.

There is an argument to be made that with four Majors, a career win percentage of 81%, and spending over 100 weeks as the World No. 1 already puts her in rarefied air, but a fourth crown in Paris, for which she is the overwhelming favourite, will establish her place among the claycourt greats of the game.

The last player to win three consecutive Roland Garros titles was Justine Henin in 2007; and only four women — Henin (4), Chris Evert (7), and Steffi Graf (6) — have won four French Open crowns in the Open Era. Only Serena Williams has ever done the Madrid-Rome-Paris treble.

Iga Swiatek

“I would lie if I would say I’m not nervous, because everybody is, I think,” Swiatek told reporters, per AFP, ahead of the French Open. “There is a lot of pressure, especially when you play well and you already know that you can achieve this step, people are expecting it to happen again and again and again.

“So there is pressure, but I wouldn’t say I’m more nervous than usual… I’m also pretty confident with how I’m playing right now and with the work we have been doing.”.

It is not just the wins she has piled up, but also the manner of victory she is used to inflicting on opponents that makes her even more of an imposing presence on the tour. In tennis, sets won 6-0 are nicknamed ‘bagels’ and those won 6-1 are nicknamed ‘breadsticks’. And ‘Iga’s bakery’ has been open for business. Since the start of 2022, she has bageled or breadsticked an opponent in 49% of her matches. That ruthless streak, on her best surface of clay, has allowed her to amass a 14-match winning streak in Paris.

Each of Swiatek’s tour-leading attributes are accentuated on clay. A pure ball striker, she has a monstrous, spin-heavy forehand she can use to dominate baseline exchanges which break away from the mould of flat-hitters that have usually done best on the women’s tour in the past. Her backhand has improved, incrementally, over the years to become a shot that cannot be targeted and her return of serve can be punishing.

Swiatek’s athleticism defines her game. Her lateral movement, the small side-to-side steps needed to adjust to big groundstrokes, is always on point and clay allows her to slide into position to use her strengths and dwarf the court for her opponents even more.

There is a potentially tricky route to the title, with the likes of Naomi Osaka and the surging Danielle Collins lurking on her side of a draw. There may also be a final faceoff against Sabalenka or World No. 4 Elena Rybakina, who has made Swiatek struggle in the past and is the last player to defeat her on clay.

But just as a certain Spaniard, now on his way out, has in the past, Swiatek has begun to look ominous on clay. Few look capable of stopping her as she chases a third straight French Open title, ahead of an Olympic medal quest at the same arena in a few months.

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Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s confessions about their incredible rivalry

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Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have taken their tennis to new heights in recent months and both feel their rivalry has been key to their individual success.

The pair have dominated women’s tennis over the past year as they are the only two players to be ranked No 1 and No 2 although Swiatek has ruled the roost when it comes to topping the rankings as she has been top of the WTA Rankings since November last year.

On the court they have met 11 times with Swiatek also dominating their head-to-head as she leads 8-3, including their two most recent outings in the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals.

There are high hopes that they will meet for a 12th time in the final at Roland Garros in a fortnight, but there is no doubt they are pushing each other to constantly improve.

“For sure when we play against each other, I feel like it’s a challenge,” Swiatek said. “I think it’s also pushing me to become better and better player, so I think we both kind of need each other to grow.

“But for sure this rivalry is exciting for the fans, as well. I guess if it’s going to go to history books, they’re also going to have some impact on it.”

Reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka, whose last win over the Pole came at the 2023 Madrid Open final, shared the four-time Grand Slam winner’s sentiments.

“I think that’s amazing the rivalry we are having with Iga,” the Belarusian said. “She definitely motivates me a lot to get better, and I think I improve so many things just because of her.

“She kind of like pointed out the things I wasn’t good at and motivated me to get better at.”

She added: “I would also mention Elena [Rybakina]; and there are so many girls who are doing so well, like Coco [Gauff]. It’s not just two of us.”

Could the rivalry reach the levels of Chris Evert v Martina Navratilova; Steffi Graf v Monica Seles; Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal; or Nadal v Novak Djokovic?

Swiatek said: “We’ll see about if it’s going to go to history books, because honestly, I don’t think either I or Aryna are focusing on that.

“We are more focusing on our own journeys. But for sure if you are going to play well, and we are playing well consistently, we will face each other in important matches.

“I think it’s great, because she’s No 2 for a long time and she has already proven that she can play great tennis.”

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Aryna Sabalenka reveals that Iga Swiatek’s Roland Garros success ‘motivates’ her

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Igi Swiatek

If the Belarusian is to play Swiatek in Paris she will need to reach the final for the first time in her career, but Sabalenka is trying not to ‘obsess’ over beating the three-time Roland Garros champion.

“If I have one thing clear, it is that I cannot obsess over beating Iga, but rather I must focus on myself and everything I must do to be a better tennis player,” said Sabalenka. “If I manage to do that, I know that I will have opportunities to provide myself against her.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek - Roland Garros 2023

Sabalenka is the second seed heading into the Paris major, coming off back-to-back final defeats to Swiatek in Madrid and Rome.

If the Belarusian is to play Swiatek in Paris she will need to reach the final for the first time in her career, but Sabalenka is trying not to ‘obsess’ over beating the three-time Roland Garros champion.

“If I have one thing clear, it is that I cannot obsess over beating Iga, but rather I must focus on myself and everything I must do to be a better tennis player,” said Sabalenka. “If I manage to do that, I know that I will have opportunities to provide myself against her.

“Here, I know she has achieved impressive things in this tournament, but I love difficult challenges. It motivates me especially and gives me great energy to fight for goals as complicated as beating Iga in this event.”

Despite Swiatek and Sabalenka dominating the WTA clay court season, the latter was keen to point out other rivals including US Open champion Coco Gauff and world No.4 Elena Rybakina.

“The duel we [Sabalenka and Swiatek] are creating is fantastic, but we are not alone since Coco and Elena also fight for the maximum goals,” explained Sabalenka. “Rivalries like this help me to be better every day and give me extra motivation. I hope we continue to find each other in the last rounds of big tournaments.”

Sabalenka will begin her 2024 Roland Garros campaign against Erika Andreeva on Tuesday, while Swiatek starts her title defence against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday.

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‘I Love Her’ – ‘Mother’ Madison Keys’ Hysteric‘I Love Her’ – ‘Mother’ Madison Keys’ Hysteric Remark to Iga Swiatek Question Leaves Tennis Fans in Splits Remark to Iga Swiatek Question Leaves Tennis Fans in Splits

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Igi Swiatek

Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek are two warriors who’ve crossed paths many times on the tennis battlefield. Swiatek, the reigning champion, has emerged victorious most of the time, leading their head-to-head battles with a commanding 4-1 score. This season alone, Swiatek has twice bested Keys. But here’s the twist: despite the string of defeats, Keys’ unwavering respect for her opponent has become a sideline story itself.

During a media interview after her tournament, the former World No. 7, Madison Keys’ shared her reflections on battling with Iga Swiatek on-court. A clip of that interview has surfaced on X, where Keys was found giving a detailed analysis of her opponent’s performance. Although she admitted that losing against the Pole “sucks”, her statements further highlighted the refined skills of the 22-year-old player.

“She is really good. I think she moves really well on clay. She kind of times everything really well and she doesn’t get wrong-footed very often. And she is just able to kind of reset the point over and over again,” Keys stated. Further adding to it, the 29-year-old American tennis pro added, “So, you feel like you never really get ahead. And then you start trying to make something out of nothing and that’s when people start missing more and going for too much. She does a really good job at constantly keeping pressure on you.”

Madison Keys’ clay court excellence has improved a lot this season. Especially after she switched his coach to his fiance, Bjorn Fratangelo, into the scene since last year. And together, they have weathered many storms on-court. This season, she even qualified for the semifinals of the Madrid Open and then the quarterfinal in Rome as well. This was how Iga emerged victories in both these events against Keys that too in just 13 days. To take it even further, she won her final match in the Internationaux De Strasbourg against Danielle Collins as well.

But her dominance on the clay court has consecutively faced a pause when it comes to facing Iga Swiatek. In a dominant display, Iga Swiatek secured back-to-back victories(each at Madrid and Rome) over Madison Keys within a remarkable 13-day span. Surprisingly, she has never won against her on clay out of their three matches on the surface. Keeping that in mind, she described the reason by providing an analytical insight into Swiatek’s play at the press conference. However, fans found her response to be quite straightforward and genuine.

Igi Swiatek

Fans react to Madison Keys’ reflections on Iga Swiatek

The last time Iga Swiatek played against Swiatek on clay was in the Italian Open quarterfinal. There, she lost to Swiatek with a score of 6-1, 6-3. However, even then, Madison took home some insightful lessons from his opponent’s performance. Therefore, referring to that one fan wrote on X,  “She said out loud what every other player thinks too, bravo MaddieIt’s ok to admit it.” And truly, Keys’ words further reflect her emotions perfectly on the subject.

Another fan, however, has a different perspective. Posting a clip of a girl laughing and smoking, the fan wrote, “These girls are so damn sick of Iga.” This fan’s indication is to Iga Swiatek’s prowess on the court. With four titles to her name, she is currently holding a record of 38-4. Therefore, beating Swiatek this season has indeed been a challenge for many players this season, including Keys herself.

Another fan simply wrote, “Without mincing words”. It highlighted Keys’ outspoken nature and appreciation of her opponent, even if it involves losing against them. Another fan wrote, “thats mother”, signifying the American player’s sweet gesture for the Madrid Open champion, Swiatek. Although, even in Madrid, Swiatek ruled over Keys in straight sets, Keys’ reflection on Swiatek is not of taking revenge but showering praise over her opponent’s expertise on-court.

One fan wrote, “need Madi to have deep run at RG so bad I love her.” Madison Keys is soon going to face Renata Zarazua in her first match in Roland Garros, although, last year she couldn’t get past the second round. As the French Open draws near, fans are hoping to see more of Madison Keys’ intense matches on clay, especially against Iga Swiatek.

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Coco Gauff Finds Solace in Danielle Collins’ Hype Message after Suffering Multiple Heartbreaks at Italian Open

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Coco Guaff

Coco Gauff faced double trouble with back-to-back defeats in the Italian Open. However, ended up having a good time in the tournament by reaching the doubles final and singles semi-final. Despite these setbacks, the 20-year-old American’s accomplishments and tenacity on the tennis court were acknowledged by fellow player Danielle Collins, who praised Gauff’s outstanding efforts at the Italian Open 2024.

Even after having different personalities, the two Americans’ on-court performances in Rome, demonstrated how well their complementary and divisive styles complemented one another. Both Collins and Gauff lost in the semi-finals, to Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively.

Danielle Collins cheers up for Coco Gauff after the Italian Open run

In the women’s doubles championship match, Gauff and her Australian partner Erin Routliffe took on the all-Italian team of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani. However, in the end, both of them lost to the Italian duo. The third-ranked tennis player, though, used her Instagram account to reflect on her experience at the Italian Open following the match. With her doubles partner, she posted some stunning photos and commented, “Rome finalist & semi-finalist ❤️‍ grazie!”

In response, the 30-year-old American, commented on the post, congratulating the young American on her great results in both singles and doubles at the same competition. Collins acknowledged Gauff’s remarkable run by saying, “On fire,” then adding a fire emoji.

After overcoming three unseeded opponents, World No. 3 Coco advanced to the Italian Open quarterfinals, where she met World No. 8 Zheng Qinwen. Gauff won the match with a commanding performance in the second set, following a close first one. But in the semifinals, she lost to eventual champion Iga Swiatek because she was too strong.

Coco Guaff

Subsequently, she still ended her Italian open campaign successfully by reaching the women’s doubles final, despite her defeat in the singles. Not only that, after her single exit in a press conference, she expressed her feelings towards the 12th-ranked tennis player while extending a supportive hand to her.

Gauff on her equation with Collins – ‘we’re very close’

During the press conference, Gauff expressed her admiration for Collins, a fellow countrywoman. She emphasized their shared affinity and admiration for one another as she described how the Miami Open champion is not just a remarkable tennis player but also an exceptional person.

She said, “We talk all the time. Danielle and I, I love her. Me and her got closer after the Billie Jean King Cup we did together. She’s just a great person, honestly. I love seeing her do well. I think if you ask her, she likes to see me do well. Tommy and Danielle are people I always root for, even though I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re very close.” Although, they have created a mutual bond during their time on tour, apart from that both of them never leaves an opportunity to support each other, while uplifting American tennis together.

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Astounding Blot in Coco Gauff’s Tennis Stat Proves Why Iga Swiatek Is a Giant Threat to Her

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Iga Swiatek and Coco Guaff

Iga Swiatek is miles ahead of the World No.s 2 and 3 but her latest match-up with Coco Gauff has unearthed some interesting stats. The Polish tennis star secured another clay court title in Rome by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the finals. While there’s a bunch of fans who are disappointed for the Belarusian’s loss, another lot is unhappy because of siding with American WTA star Coco Gauff, whom Swiatek defeated in the semis.

In their 11th showdown, the result between Gauff and Swiatek was the same as it had been 9 times before – the World No. 1’s absolute victory. The reigning US Open champion stands with just one victory in Cincinnati last year, sometimes labeled as luck by some, whereas Swiatek holds a massive lead of 10 wins throughout their careers so far.

Recently, a post on X shed light on another strong reason why Gauff fans do not tend to like Iga Swiatek and her notable feats. According to the highlighted statistics, the 20-year-old has lost a total of 90 matches throughout her otherwise notable singles career. But Iga Swiatek’s utter dominance over the once highest-ranked teenager in the world, by putting pressure on her forehands has resulted in an astounding number.

As the digits suggest, Gauff has lost a total of 10 matches, which is nearly 11 percent of the total defeats she has faced in her singles career at 90. While Swiatek’s style of play is not free of errors either, Gauff’s serve has come under particular scrutiny. The American is trying to make technical changes to improve in the long run, but to owe such a significant loss percentage to just one player doesn’t spell a bright future.

Meanwhile, this rivalry is taking on a life of its own. Where Swiatek vs. Sabalenka is receiving Martina Navratilova/ Chris Evert comparisons as the top two WTA players to fight it out, the Polish and the American players have other WTA legends to look to.

Iga Swiatek and Coco Guaff

Coco Gauff-Iga Swiatek rivalry taking resembling Serena-Sharapova-like results

Besides the fact that Coco Gauff is currently suppressed under the weight of 10 massive defeats from Iga Swiatek, their rivalry is actually taking a historic turn. Back in the 2000s, fans witnessed the rivalry between the two top-ranked players Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Although they enjoyed every other showdown between them with the same enthusiasm, the numbers suggested a clear one-sidedness, much like the young WTA players today.

Looking back to the head-to-head stats between the two, Williams leads with a massive 20 wins out of the 22 matches played between them. While the current record between Swiatek and Gauff shows a clear resemblance to that of the historical one, can Gauff turn the tables and recreate that Cincinnati magic again?

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Coco Gauff’s Achilles Heel Makes Iga Swiatek’s Weakness Look Feeble as She Explains Why the American Falters Behind

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Iga Swiatek and Coco Guaff

Once again, it was Iga Swiatek who had the last laugh. The Polish tennis ace won back-to-back titles after winning the Italian Open last week. Swiatek is on a stellar run and defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash. One of the matches apart from the finals that caught the attention of the tennis fraternity was Swiatek’s match against Coco Gauff. The two are building up an epic rivalry that has a long way to go. In this regard, Swiatek made an interesting comparison between herself and Gauff.

Like Gauff, Swiatek also has a big weakness in her game. Service is one thing which the Polish star isn’t the greatest at. Despite this, she doesn’t let her opponents take advantage of her weak serve. During the WTA Insider Podcast, she highlighted why this flaw has minimal impact on the result of her games, unlike Gauff.

Swiatek revealed, “Well, the thing is that even if I’m not the greatest server, nobody can kind of push it, you know, because it’s the only shot we play on our own. So I don’t feel like anybody has any, like, influence besides me on it. When I’m, you know, on court like the opening. They can, I don’t know, maybe return better, but it’s not that easy to do that as well.”

Further, she added, “So, the serve I feel like I can, you know, say straightforwardly that I’m just gonna work on it and it’s gonna get better. Maybe it’s not perfect, but I don’t feel like it’s you know my weakness in terms of somebody can use it because that’s the only shot we are doing on our own without the impact of you know other players, unless you make crazy moves on returning with your feet.”

Gauff’s serve as we know has been extensively examined by tennis pundits, especially in recent weeks. Things got especially bad during this clay season as the young American confessed she had been making technical changes to improve it. While she has her eyes on the long-term plan, some immediate losses are to be expected. Swiatek, certainly, is handling it better.

Meanwhile, tennis legend Martina Navratilova identified this weakness in Swiatek’s game. Subsequently, she devised a plan for her opponents to defeat Swiatek.

How can unstoppable Iga Swiatek be stopped?

With the French Open looming, Swiatek is on cloud 9 with back-to-back wins in Madrid and Italy. As a result, she is a strong favorite to win the title in Paris. However, Swiatek’s weakness of her service was pointed out by Navratilova who gave specific tips to her opponents to take her down.

Iga Swiatek and Coco Guaff

Navratilova said, “But she’s just putting it all on service right now, and once she gets ahead, watch out. So I would be thinking about only the first four games if I’m playing her. I gotta say it to all or better. Once she gets ahead, good luck.”

To some reporters, the WTA great even compared the Pole to her greatest rival/ friend in tennis, calling Swiatek “Chris Evert-like”, “That topspin drives you nuts, and I think she moves as good as anybody…She’s got the consistency and the major wins. That’s why she’s been No 1 for so long.”

Players like Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will be all ears to Navratilova’s tactics as they aim to stop Swiatek from clinching a hat-trick of titles. Nonetheless, with the form Swiatek is in, it will prove to be a monumental task for anyone to stop her on her favorite surface.

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Is Rafael Nadal playing in the French Open 2024?

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Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is the all-time winner of the French Open, and fans are eager to know if the legend will play this year. What is known about the Spanish player so far? Here we provide the latest updates.

Rafael Nadal, the all-time winner of the French Open, has captivated tennis fans around the world with his unparalleled success on the clay courts of Roland Garros. As this year’s tournament approaches, anticipation is building among fans who are eager to know whether the legendary Spanish player will compete once again.

Nadal’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary, with numerous titles and memorable matches that have solidified his status as a tennis legend. His dominance at the French Open, where he has claimed a record number of titles, has been a highlight of his illustrious career.

However, recent seasons have seen Nadal grappling with injuries, leading to uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming edition. Especially after what happened at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, where his performances were not the best.

How many French Open titles does Rafael Nadal have?

The absolute legend of world tennis, Rafael Nadal, has a record that will likely stand for many years, if not for all eternity. Nadal has been victorious at the French Open an astounding 14 times between 2005 and 2022.

Rafael Nadal

In other words, over 17 years, he failed to win the most important clay court tournament only four times: in 2009 (4th Round), 2015 (Quarterfinals), 2016 (3rd Round), and 2021 (Semifinals). The dominance of the Spanish player in this tournament and on clay courts for nearly two decades has been absolute and almost unquestionable.

French Open: Will Rafael Nadal be there?

Even Rafael Nadal himself is uncertain about his participation. After his defeat against Hubert Hurkacz, the Spanish stated: “You could see how difficult it was today on the court, and we have to accept it. There are two possible paths: one is to say that I am not ready, that I am not playing well enough. Based on that, it will be time to say that I am not going to play in Paris.”

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