Iga Swiatek on the brink of a devastating rankings meltdown despite Elena Rybakina escape
Iga Swiatek was staring at a major WTA Rankings meltdown in her epic fourth round match against Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros – and her problems are not resolved after her great escape.
Four-time French Open winner Swiatek was in huge trouble as she fell 6-1, 2-0 down against an inspired Rybakina, but the Polish star found a way to dig herself out of the hole and turn the match against.
It may have been one of the most significant matches of the season in the women’s game, as a comprehensive defeat for Swiatek on the court that has given her so much of his success would have ended her era of dominance.
She would also have suffered a major rankings meltdown, with the 2,000 points she is defending from winning last year’s title at Roland Garros dropping off her rolling WTA Rankings total for now.
That means we have the curious sight of long-time world No 1 Swiatek sliding down to No 8 in the live WTA Rankings, which is where she would have stayed if she had lost against Rybakina.
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The WTA Rankings will be updated after the French Open and Swiatek will need to win the title once again to clamber back up to No 4 in the rankings.
Her hopes of getting that top four spot ahead of Wimbledon were boosted by Jasmine Paolini’s defeat against Elina Svitolina in Paris on Sunday.
Paolini is currently at No 4 in the live rankings and she will stay there unless Swiatek wins another Roland Garros title next Saturday.
While the Polish star is keeping her hopes in Paris alive, there were big signs of frailties in her game once again against Rybakina.
The dominant Swiatek of the last few years has been replaced with a more uncertain version in 2025 and she has not lifted a title since her win at Roland Garros last year.
Now she will be hoping her comeback 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win against Rybakina will refire her burners for the crucial phase of the tournament.
“She really pushed me,” said Swiatek. “First set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner.
“I needed to do something to get back into the game. With her playing like that I didn’t have a lot of hope. At the end, I was able to play my game, and I am super happy.
“It means a lot to win. I think I needed that kind of win to like feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure, and even if it’s not going the right way, you know, still turn the match around to win it,”
“And even if it’s not going the right way, you know, to still turn the match around to win it. For sure it’s a great confirmation for me. I wanted to have a match like that.”
Rybakina gave her verdict on the match as she admitted she had chances to win.
“Definitely not the result I wanted. It was a close match, tough match. I’ll try to take positive things throughout the whole tournament,” she said.
“There was a moment in the second set where I had a volley on top of the net. I lost it. So it was a big turnaround. She stepped in and started to play more aggressive.
“I was down already and also physically, I started with very good intensity. I was aggressive. In the 2nd set, quickly she went up. It was tough to come back. Generally I think I wasn’t pushing well with the legs on the serve. So it was a bit tough.”
“I knew when I came out on court no matter the first set, first of all I was playing very aggressive. I was using a lot of energy on the serve and on these first balls. I knew I might have a drop. She got used to the speed of my ball.
“After it was just getting tighter and tighter. At some moments, my serve didn’t help me much. And then her intensity was better. I had all the opportunities.
“Even in the third set it was 4-4. I was down on my serve, and then it turned around. I was up 5-4. I had chances. I didn’t risk it where I had to. I played a little bit passive in some important moments.”
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