‘Iga Swiatek is the favourite in my eyes,’ says tennis legend
Iga Swiatek might not have had the greatest of clay-court seasons so far, but Mats Wilander warns that it is foolish to write her off at the 2025 French Open.
Having completed the hat-trick of big titles on the red dirt last year as she won the Madrid Open, Italian Open and Roland Garros, Swiatek started her title defence in Paris without any trophies to her name since June 2024 when she won a fourth French Open.
She is also yet to reach a final since her title run in Paris last year and is fresh off a third-round exit to Danielle Collins in Rome.
Having slipped to No 5 in the WTA Rankings, many believe Swiatek will struggle to retain her crown in Paris.
However, seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander believes it will only take a couple of match wins at the French Open before Swiatek regains her confidence.
“I like it, it was a close match and she had to play bigger points,” the former world No 1 told TNT Sports on the back of Swiatek’s first-round win. “If you are stressed, it’s the big points earlier in the tournament that are the most stressful, and she got through.
“I said it from the beginning, I said Iga Swiatek is the favourite in my eyes as she only needs one or two matches.
“She will have forgotten about Stuttgart, Madrid and all the other clay-court tournaments and every other one since last year. Last year was the last time she was in the final of a tournament which is unbelievable in a way.
“But you don’t have to have a big clay-court season to play well at the French Open. Sometimes it helps you because you are more fresh, and I don’t think she has huge expectations.
“The more she wins, the more she will gain confidence. So I will put her up there with Aryna Sabalenka as being the favourite.”
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And the Pole has already won one match comfortably at this year’s tournament as she beat Rebecca Sramkova and up next is 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu.
Wilander added: “Emma Raducanu has a big challenge with Iga Swiatek but everyone on the women’s tour now knows how to play against Iga. That doesn’t mean you will be successful.
“You have to take the ball early, you have to hit it hard, it’s really the only chance you have. Does Emma have the big shot to hurt Iga? No, but she takes it early and on the rise.
“It might be cold and it’s so important to have the right conditions. I think you want it hot and dry if you want to beat Iga.”
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