Iga Swiatek told she can ‘send a new message’ to rivals by Serena Williams’ ex-coach
Iga Swiatek has been urged to copy Jannik Sinner’s “playbook” and “send a new message” to her French Open rivals by acclaimed coach Rick Macci.
Four-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek is looking to win her fifth title in Paris this coming fortnight, and her sixth Grand Slam title overall.
However, the former world No 1 approaches her title defence amid a difficult run of form.
Swiatek has not reached a final at any level since beating Jasmine Paolini in the French Open championship match twelve months ago.
Her clay swing in 2025 has seen her fail to defend her Madrid Open and Italian Open titles, thrashed by Coco Gauff in the semi-final of Madrid before a third-round exit to Danielle Collins at the Foro Italico.
Defeat to Collins, coupled with Paolini’s run to the title in Rome, has seen Swiatek fall to world No 5, making her the fifth seed in Paris – her lowest Grand Slam seeding since the 2022 Australian Open.
Swiatek has lost just twice at the French Open and has won the title for three consecutive years, and she could become the first woman in the Open Era to claim four straight titles at the event.
Several theories have been proposed as to why the 23-year-old’s form has tailed off in recent months, with many pondering if her one-month doping suspension in 2024 has impacted her confidence.
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In a string of posts on Twitter/X, Macci – best known for coaching the likes of the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova – urged Swiatek to look towards Sinner for inspiration.
Sinner reached the final at the Italian Open in his first tournament back from a three-month suspension, having won the US Open and Australian Open titles since news of his failed tests emerged.
Macci also urged Swiatek to show that the French Open is “her house” and warned that her lower seeding may not make too much of an impact.
He wrote: “Iga controls Iga. She can take an EPIC PAGE out of Sinners [sic] playbook as no matter what cards you are dealt and felt your totally in charge to stay positive and not Melt.
“Iga and her French Open does not matter because right now her toughest opponent is in the Mirror. Once she puts back on that positive bulletproof clay court VEST the Polish Punisher is the BEST.
“The Polish Punisher mentally can send a new message by showing more energy, positive body language, more excitement and determination to every player that the French Open is her HOUSE and Iga is back and not the MOUSE.
“Iga needs to stick with her bread and butter so her mind does not flutter. She has to win with brutal angles 24/7 and do not overplay and give gifts from heaven. Her game was built on controlled aggression and needs to go back with her measured wicked surgical session.
“Iga will be seeded five at the FRENCH OPEN. Seeding does not matter. Seeding is a moment in time what others think of you from what you have done in the PAST. If you live in the past you get passed. What Iga thinks of Iga is the real Seed that should be planted.”
As the fifth seed, Swiatek will be drawn in the same quarter of the women’s singles draw as one of the top four seeds; either No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No 2 Coco Gauff, No 3 Jessica Pegula, or No 4 Paolini.
Despite her dip in the rankings and potentially tougher draw as a result, Swiatek is still widely considered among the leading title favourites.
Victory in 2025 would see her move ahead of Justine Henin’s haul of four French Open women’s singles titles, with only Chris Evert (seven) and Steffi Graf (six) ahead of her in the Open Era.
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