Iga Swiatek makes surprising confession after comeback win keeps French Open streak alive
Iga Swiatek was on the brink of being bagelled in the first set of her French Open fourth-round match against Elena Rybakina before a stunning turnaround.
Iga Swiatek confessed that she "wanted" to drop the first set of her match to challenge herself with a remarkable comeback against Elena Rybakina. The defending champion – who's yet to return to her dominant form this year – had a rough start in her French Open fourth-round clash, barely avoiding a first-set shutout on her preferred court.
She managed only one game out of the first nine before hitting her stride and overcoming the 12th seed, marking her 25th consecutive win at Roland Garros. Earlier, Rybakina had surged to a 5-0 lead and clinched the opening set 6-1 in just 35 minutes.
The Russian ace then secured an early break in the second set, claiming the initial eight points, but momentum shifted to Swiatek's side. The so-called Queen of Clay bounced back to snatch the second set 6-3 and, after exchanging breaks, triumphed with a 7-5 final set, capped by a powerful forehand.
- NASCAR makes rule change over driver weight in middle of season
- Novak Djokovic's physio undergoes emergency surgery at French Open
The audience at Court Philippe-Chatrier was unaccustomed to witnessing the 24-year-old face such difficulty from the outset, even against a past Wimbledon champ, yet Swiatek acknowledged her desire for this kind of challenging encounter.
"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," she revealed.
"For sure it's a great confirmation for me. I for sure wanted to have a match like that. Obviously it's great to also have full control over the match, but against great players, it's not always going to be possible. I'm happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court."
Swiatek, now gearing up for a quarter-finals clash with Elina Svitolina, is frequently leading the pack on clay. She understands, however, that maintaining dominance in the latter stages might be challenging, and she expressed her eagerness to be ready for tougher battles ahead.
"It's a great confirmation for me that I can handle the pressure and everything," she declared further. "But honestly, I wasn't expecting to have an easy score against Elena. I also had an easy score against her, but losing, you know, because she's a great player."
Swiatek's triumph over Rybakina marked her 25th straight victory at the French Open, drawing her level with Monica Seles for the second-longest winning streak in the tournament's history.
DON'T MISS...
With Chris Evert holding the all-time record of 29 consecutive French Open victories, Swiatek was queried about how much she values such records, prompting her to chuckle and respond: "I had no idea about it, so.."
