Richard Pagliaro | @tennis_now | Sunday, June 1, 2025
Image source: Antoine Couvercelle-Rolex
In nine games, eight will make the most horrifying tremor on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Face deficits of 1-6 and 0-2 Elena Rybakina today, Iga Swiatek Skip the trembling trembling and adopt a simple mindset suit: fight for every ball.
Roland Garros champion Swiatek won a tortuous comeback with 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, heading to the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive year.
Swiatek said the comeback was confirming that she might perform under pressure after a low season.
“For me, it’s a good confirmation that I can handle the stress and everything, but honestly, I didn’t expect it to be easy to score for Elena,” Swiatek said. “I also had a simple score for her, but lost because she’s a great player. So, for sure, that’s not even what I was thinking about today.
“Yes, no matter how much the score is, I’ll try to play the best tennis ball at any time. Honestly, it doesn’t matter, but of course, as I said, it’s great to overcome some challenges in the game.”
This is Swiatek’s 25th consecutive Roland Garros Win, equal to the Hall of Fame Monica Celes Women’s winning streak in the second longest Paris Open era Chrissie Evert (29).
Swiatek said Spaceing Out helped her turn the game around.
Further backups behind the baseline give Swiatek more time to return to Rybakina’s second place as the game progresses.
Rybakina won only 9 of 21 second-time points, not reaching the ace in the final.
“[Coach] Wim, this is a plan he would sometimes convince me to try it out, but I wasn’t sure it was my business,” Swiatek said. “Because I remember years ago, when I started to become more aggressive, I started to win more victories.
“I think girls are serving faster now and everyone is growing.
“You know, there are some limitations to the reaction you can make. I think the coach actually did help me because I wouldn’t come up with that myself. Even if I’m a little bit practicing, it’s still a weird thing I’m going to do.
“But for sure, it helped. Yes, as I said, it gave me more time to play some ball.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeivcrsjx04
Swiatek’s next is a quarter-final clash with 30-year-old Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina Who saved three games to upset the 2024 finalists Jasmine Paolini.
“It means a lot. I think I need a win like this to feel the feeling that I can win under pressure, even if the situation is not right, you still know, still turn the game around and win the game,” Swiatek said. “It’s a good confirmation for me to be sure. Yes, I definitely want to play in a game like this.”
“Obviously, there’s total control over the game, but against great players, it’s not always possible. I’m glad I’m fighting myself and I’ve solved the problem in court, too.”
