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.
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.
After securing back-to-back titles in WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, the world No.1 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.
“I just want to stay in my rhythm, stay in my zone, be focused,” Swiatek said. She also knows she will have a target on her back.
“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.”
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 18-time grand slam champion was quoted as saying by the WTA.
Swiatek certainly left world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka wondering what more she needs to do to get the better of her Polish rival at both the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals.
Reuters
