Swiatek Beats Rybakina in French Open Thriller After Set One Rout

Roland Garros, Paris — Iga Świątek, the reigning queen of clay and four-time French Open champion, faced a rare test of resilience on Sunday as she battled back to defeat former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a gripping encounter.

Świątek, who has dominated at Roland Garros in recent years without much resistance, was shaken early as Rybakina stormed through the opening set, dictating play with power and precision. “The first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,” Świątek remarked afterward, acknowledging how overwhelmed she felt at the start.

Down a set and a break, the Polish star could have crumbled under pressure. But on Court Philippe-Chatrier — where she hasn’t lost in four years — Świątek dug deep, channelling the same mental strength that helped her survive a match point against Naomi Osaka last year.

She saved seven break points during a tense stretch, adjusted her tactics mid-match, and weathered the emotional frustration of a correctly overturned call that denied her a 5-4 lead in the deciding set. Her tenacity and problem-solving ability proved decisive.

Despite early footwork issues and a shaky service rhythm, Świątek regrouped by altering her return position — standing deeper behind the baseline to better handle Rybakina’s booming serves. It was a move she credited to coach Wim Fissette: “It’s not something I usually do, but it helped, and I trusted the coaching.”

Rybakina, whose recent form surge has made her a threat once again, looked in control until a critical unforced error — a missed volley — gave Świątek a lifeline. The Kazakh admitted afterward that she struggled to sustain her high level, especially under the physical pressure Świątek applies with every rally.

Now into the quarterfinals against Elina Svitolina, Świątek is regaining momentum at the right time. A potential semifinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka could reignite one of the most exciting rivalries in women’s tennis.

Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Świątek said, “I think I needed that kind of match — to know I can fight back even when things aren't going well. It wasn't perfect, but I stayed composed and found solutions on court.”

Sunday’s win may have lacked Świątek’s usual dominance, but it showcased her championship mettle — the kind of grit that could carry her to a fifth French Open title.