Tennis-Swiatek ready to join select club as she bids for fourth French Open title

tennis-swiatek ready to join select club as she bids for fourth french open title

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 18, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning the final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

By Anita Kobylinska

(Reuters) - Iga Swiatek will be looking to join a select band of players who have lifted the Suzanne Lenglen Cup four times when she begins the defence of her French Open title next week.

Since tennis turned professional in 1968, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Justine Henin have been the only women to have claimed at least four titles at Roland Garros and on current form few would bet against Swiatek adding her name to that illustrious list come June 8.

tennis-swiatek ready to join select club as she bids for fourth french open title

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 18, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek poses with the trophy as she celebrates after winning the final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

After securing back-to-back titles in WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, the world number one will come out swinging in Paris on the back of a 12-match winning streak as she chases a fourth triumph in five years at the claycourt major.

Also on the line will be pulling off a rare 'Triple Crown' - with the 22-year-old bidding to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2013 to win the Madrid-Rome-Paris titles in the same season.

"She lives to play on clay... She’s playing really well, so it’s going to be tough to beat her," twice Rome champion Elina Svitolina told the WTA.

American great Martina Navratilova summed up why Swiatek is such a formidable force on red dirt.

"She’s been Chris Evert-like. That topspin drives you nuts and I think she moves as good as anybody. Clay, she’s got that down to perfection, the sliding and the movement and recovery," the 18-time Grand Slam champion was quoted as saying by the WTA.

"Just wears you out from the baseline, playing aggressive. She’s got the consistency and the major wins. That’s why she’s been No.1 for so long. Paris is the perfect venue for her game.”

Swiatek certainly left world number two Aryna Sabalenka wondering what more she needs to do to get the better of her Polish rival.

Swiatek saved three championships points to defeat Sabalenka in the Madrid final two weeks ago and then came out on top again in a showdown between world's top two at the Italian Open final, swatting aside the Belarusian 6-2 6-3 to win the 21st title of her career.

Unsurprisingly, mentally she feels more confident heading into Roland Garros this year than she did 12 months ago, when a thigh injury forced her to quit the 2023 Italian Open during her quarter-final against Elena Rybakina.

"I feel like I'm in a different place. I'm still focusing on the same things but I remember last year I was more nervous and more stressed. I felt more pressure. This time I'm kind of using the way I feel to just enjoy everything more," Swiatek said.

"I just want to stay in my rhythm, stay in my zone, be focused."

She also knows she will have a target on her back but is ready to face that challenge.

"I’m No. 1 so I’m the favourite everywhere if you look at rankings. But rankings don’t play, so ... I’ll do everything step by step and we’ll see."

(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

OTHER NEWS

31 minutes ago

Dominant second-half display sees Glasgow crowned URC champions

31 minutes ago

Want less smartphone distraction - how about a dumbphone?

31 minutes ago

England WAGS give players much-needed morale boost after deflating Denmark performance

31 minutes ago

Swinney: Govt should remove barrier to passing Gender Reform bill

33 minutes ago

Sha'Carri Richardson will race for spot in Olympics after winning semifinals at US trials in 10.86

33 minutes ago

Remain alert as severe storms target southern Ontario on Sunday

33 minutes ago

Son seeks advice after parents install controversial landscaping method: 'I wasn't in favor of the idea'

33 minutes ago

Nuclear a ‘100-year’ plan unlike Labor’s ’15-to-20-year’ renewables

33 minutes ago

With the British summer as unpredictable as ever, here’s how you can bag a bargain holiday

33 minutes ago

Rains, cooler weather help firefighters gain ground on large wildfires in southern New Mexico

42 minutes ago

Noah Lyles wins opening round of men's 100m at US Olympic track and field trials

47 minutes ago

Boy, 12, dies at water park following ‘medical-related incident’: cops

48 minutes ago

What Happened To Kate Winslet After Titanic Is Heartbreaking & Gross

48 minutes ago

‘Genius move’: Coalition will ‘win’ next election off of nuclear policy announcement

48 minutes ago

DOJ Should Do 4 Things if Aileen Cannon Dismisses Trump Case—Ex-Prosecutor

48 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy choke explained by sports psychologist as he skips £3.1m payday

48 minutes ago

Government to challenge native title claim over famous Aussie island

52 minutes ago

3 men die after becoming distressed while swimming at Florida beach

54 minutes ago

Trump blasts Biden’s America as ‘worst’ moment in US history during Philly rally

54 minutes ago

What Factors Influence The Planes That Airlines Order?

54 minutes ago

Steve Kerr on why LeBron James is more like Scottie Pippen than Michael Jordan: "That's what Michael did in his sleep"

54 minutes ago

Crichton stands out from pack to be on cusp of history

54 minutes ago

Trump in Philadelphia for Temple University rally ahead of debate in latest blue city stop

54 minutes ago

Khaadem has triumphed once again at Royal Ascot claiming Jubilee honours

54 minutes ago

Lando Norris reveals McLaren disruption extent following hospitality fire

57 minutes ago

Wheeler gets 9th win, Harper among 3 homers as Phillies rout Diamondbacks 12-1

57 minutes ago

Christopher Bell stays undefeated in NASCAR Xfinity Series at New Hampshire with 4th straight win

58 minutes ago

Blanco throws 7 strong innings and McCormick homers twice as Astros beat Orioles 5-1

59 minutes ago

Thousands of Michigan Residents Weather Days Without Power During Heat Wave

59 minutes ago

Ex-Devil Adam Henrique Continues to Add to Postseason Resume

1 hour ago

Iran overturns rapper Toomaj Salehi's death sentence for criticizing the government

1 hour ago

Video: Tom Cruise leads huge names including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Hugh Grant in the crowds at Taylor Swift's second Eras tour Wembley show

1 hour ago

Video: Gillian McKeith is 'scammed' out of hundreds of pounds after she and her daughter Afton try to buy Taylor Swift tickets

1 hour ago

Older People Who Use Psychedelics Show Fascinating Brain Functions

1 hour ago

This major champion made it to the weekend of 2024 KPMG Women's PGA playing with broken toe

1 hour ago

6 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Paris—According to In-the-Know Locals

1 hour ago

Ultramarathon athlete awarded more than $13 million after falling on ‘perennially' wet Seattle sidewalk

1 hour ago

Climate activists are scaring children, former head of OFSTED warns

1 hour ago

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 leak shows off AirPods-like design

1 hour ago

Lewis Hamilton ‘focused’ on fighting for a victory at F1 Spanish Grand Prix