
Why Swiatek's reign as 'Queen of Clay' is under threat
French Open 2025Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland GarrosCoverage: Live radio commentary on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Iga Swiatek's recent dominance at the French Open - and the tournaments leading up to it - has led to a regal nickname: the Queen of Clay.The 23-year-old Pole has won four of the past five Roland Garros women's singles titles and arrives in Paris as the three-time defending champion.But this year there are considerable doubts about if she can continue her reign.For the first time since 2020 - when she claimed her maiden title as an unheralded teenager - Swiatek arrives without winning a WTA tournament in the first five months of the season.As a result, the former long-time world number one has dropped to fifth in the rankings.It begs the obvious question: can she still be considered the favourite to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen?
'My life turned upside down' - the mental toll
Most players on the WTA Tour would be envious of Swiatek's record this season.She has won 27 of her 36 matches so far, reaching four semi-finals and contesting another three quarter-finals in eight tournaments.But Swiatek has rarely reached her dominant best over the past few months.She has often looked tense, tightly wound with emotion, and it has poured out after tough defeats.Swiatek was inconsolable after losing in the Olympics semi-finals at Roland Garros last summer, saying she cried for "six hours" afterwards.Two weeks later came a bombshell - Swiatek had failed a doping test.It was announced in November she had tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample and was subsequently given a one-month ban after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the result was caused by contamination."Truth to be told, over the last months, there has always been something," Swiatek told BBC Sport in Madrid earlier in May.
"My life went upside down in November. It wasn't easy and wasn't easy to accept afterwards."It took me a long time to do that, but now I feel like I have space just to work and hopefully I'm going to use that."I'm looking for a peaceful time and just waiting for it to happen."Swiatek was alluding to a series of issues that have cropped up this year.In March, Swiatek was criticised for reacting angrily towards a ball boy at Indian Wells, then given extra security after being verbally abused by an "aggressive and taunting" fan in Miami.She made a short trip back to Warsaw last month for the funeral of her grandfather before her Madrid Open title defence began.During a heavy semi-final defeat by Coco Gauff, Swiatek broke down at a changeover and sobbed beneath her towel.And in Rome, she was visibly upset during a brief chat with the media after a chastening third-round loss to Danielle Collins."For sure it hasn't been easy. For sure I'm doing something wrong," she said afterwards."I need to regroup and change some stuff."
'I'm focusing on mistakes' - the technical uncertainty
With these issues lingering in the background, Swiatek has been nowhere near her best level throughout the clay-court swing.Her destructive forehand - arguably her most effective tool - has lost its reliability, while her service game has been picked apart by big-hitting opponents.The mistakes, according to Swiatek, are because of slight technical tweaks she is making.But there is also an element of uncertainty in her usually sharp footwork, hinting at her crisis of confidence.The manner of the early exit in Rome - a 6-1 7-5 loss to Collins - was particularly concerning, with Swiatek converting just two of 10 break opportunities."I'm making decisions that are not really good at the moment because I just remember how it felt in previous tournaments or previous years," Swiatek said."I kind of assume it's going to go in and then I make mistakes."It's not the same - I'm confused."
Swiatek appointed Wim Fissette - a leading coach who has helped several players win Grand Slams - after parting ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski last year.In a recent interview with a Polish journalist, Swiatek said it was "very harsh and unfair" to blame Fissette for her recent results."During a tournament, under the influence of various factors, including stress, I sometimes make a mistake and go back to my old technique," she told the Sportowefakty website., external"But it's not the coach's fault - that's how training and sport work."The whole process is much more complicated than it might seem to someone watching from the couch in front of the TV."
Can she bounce back at the French Open?
For Swiatek, the clay-court events leading up to the French Open usually build her rhythm and confidence, ensuring she can peak at the business end of the tournament.Clearly that has not happened this year, but Roland Garros is the one place where you would back Swiatek to rediscover her mojo.The statistics underline her recent dominance:21 victories in a row35 wins in her 37 career matches0 defeats since 2021"Sometimes you can start the Grand Slam in really bad shape and not playing perfectly, but then find your game during," Swiatek told BBC Sport."This is a two-week tournament so I think it's impossible to peak for the whole event - you just need to kind of survive."
Swiatek's speed and agility of movement give her time to unleash her Rafael Nadal-esque top-spin forehand - a key component in her success.American world number two Gauff, one of the main contenders for the trophy, insists it would be foolish to rule Swiatek out."I always think if someone wins a tournament that many times, regardless of what shape they're in, they can definitely figure out a way to win again," Gauff said.But immediately after her Rome defeat, Swiatek seemed unsure.She curtly dismissed suggestions that returning to Roland Garros could rekindle positive feelings.Yet her early arrival in Paris - practising on Court Philippe Chatrier at the end of last week - showed she hopes familiarity will breed success.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Marseille reach agreement to sign Gomes on free transfer
Marseille have reached an agreement in principle to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes on a free French club had been in talks to sign the 24-year-old, who announced in May that he would leave Lille when his contract expires this League clubs Tottenham and West Ham were also linked with Gomes, but he has chosen to remain in Ligue joining from Manchester United in 2020, Gomes has scored 10 goals and provided 19 assists in 134 appearances for earned his first four senior caps for England under interim manager Lee Carsley last year, but has yet to feature under current boss Thomas Tuchel. Gomes' move to Marseille will see him link up with former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi and reunite with fellow Manchester United academy product Mason 23-year-old striker finished as last season's joint-top scorer in Ligue 1 with Paris St-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, with both scoring 21 league finished second to PSG to earn automatic qualification to the league phase of next season's Champions League.


BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Marseille reach ‘agreement in principle' to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes
Angel Gomes is set to join Marseille after the Ligue 1 club announced they had reached an 'agreement in principle' to sign the England midfielder. The former Manchester United youngster is set to become a free agent when his contract with another French side in Lille expires at the end of this month. Advertisement The 24-year-old could also be joined by Burnley's CJ Egan-Riley at the Stade Velodrome after the Clarets confirmed the defender had rejected the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 🤝 Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club. 🏴 — Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) June 11, 2025 Gomes joined Lille five years ago after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. His performances have since earned him four England caps. He had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham but has opted for Marseille, where he will link up with another former United player in Mason Greenwood. Advertisement A statement from Marseille read: 'Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club.' Egan-Riley, who is a graduate of Manchester City's youth programme, impressed as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last season but was also out of contract this summer. The Lancashire side were keen for the 22-year-old to stay but have accepted he wishes to move on. Egan-Riley also looks to be heading to France (Mike Egerton/PA) They confirmed the centre-back's departure in a statement which referred to him joining an unnamed Ligue 1 club. It has been widely claimed that is Marseille. Advertisement The statement added: 'Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has been informed by the representatives of CJ Egan-Riley that the England U21 international defender has now formally rejected the club's offer of a significant long-term contract with the club. 'Despite the club's commitment to securing CJ's long-term future and the substantial investment offered, CJ has made the decision to pursue an opportunity in France.'


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Marseille reach ‘agreement in principle' to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes
Angel Gomes is set to join Marseille after the Ligue 1 club announced they had reached an 'agreement in principle' to sign the England midfielder. The former Manchester United youngster is set to become a free agent when his contract with another French side in Lille expires at the end of this month. The 24-year-old could also be joined by Burnley's CJ Egan-Riley at the Stade Velodrome after the Clarets confirmed the defender had rejected the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor. Gomes joined Lille five years ago after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. His performances have since earned him four England caps. He had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham but has opted for Marseille, where he will link up with another former United player in Mason Greenwood. A statement from Marseille read: 'Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club.' Egan-Riley, who is a graduate of Manchester City's youth programme, impressed as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last season but was also out of contract this summer. The Lancashire side were keen for the 22-year-old to stay but have accepted he wishes to move on. They confirmed the centre-back's departure in a statement which referred to him joining an unnamed Ligue 1 club. It has been widely claimed that is Marseille. The statement added: 'Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has been informed by the representatives of CJ Egan-Riley that the England U21 international defender has now formally rejected the club's offer of a significant long-term contract with the club. 'Despite the club's commitment to securing CJ's long-term future and the substantial investment offered, CJ has made the decision to pursue an opportunity in France.'