Emotional Triumph at Roland-Garros: Iga Swiatek's Journey to Victory
This Roland-Garros tournament has been nothing short of surreal for Iga Swiatek. Although she faced a difficult start in the second round, where she saved a match point against Naomi Osaka, Swiatek managed to improve her game with every match. She stated, 'I am proud of myself, because the expectations were very high from the outside. There was a lot of pressure. I'm happy to have won the title and to have managed to deal with all that and win the title.'
Pressure during the final can be overwhelming, yet Swiatek felt she played a very good match despite being broken early. She acknowledged, 'During the final there is sometimes a lot of pressure, I think I played a very good match. I got broken early on, so it wasn't a perfect match, but I think the level was very high and it's not as easy a match as the score makes it seem.' This poise under pressure has been a hallmark of Swiatek's performance throughout the tournament.
Her confidence on clay is another factor that contributed significantly to her success. Swiatek commented, 'Even though I'm in a difficult situation, I know I can win and that gives me confidence. I always try to do my best, whatever the score. That doesn’t mean I’m going to win all my matches.' This determination has been evident in all her games, reflecting her belief in her own abilities.
Swiatek's perfectionism helps her manage internal pressures effectively. She added, 'When I do something, I want to do it 100%. I'm a perfectionist, so there's always pressure behind me, but I think I handle my own pressure very well. It's more when there's pressure from outside that it's a little more difficult. But I manage to manage it well, especially during this tournament and it was an emotional victory. I felt a lot of stress yesterday and this morning too. I knew that if I focused on tennis, I could overcome this pressure and in the end, everything worked out the way I hoped.'
Swiatek also shared her thoughts on her strategies and future aspirations, particularly regarding Wimbledon. 'I thought about doing a pre-season on grass, but last year's results were quite good. I feel like every year it's easier for me to adapt, especially with my coach who, with Radwanska, had very good results on grass. Yes, it's a big challenge. If I lost faster here, I could play 2 more weeks on grass and be a better grass court player, but I love playing on clay. The biggest improvement I can make now is to use my serve which has improved, but I don't expect much because the balls are different. Overall, tennis is different on this surface. I'm going to have to work hard to play better and better.'
- At just 23, Swiatek has secured multiple wins at Roland-Garros, claiming titles in 2020, 2022, and now in 2023. This dominance on the **Philippe-Chatrier court** solidifies her position as a top player, particularly on clay surfaces. In one of her most decisive matches, Swiatek defeated Anastasia Potapova (6-0, 6-0) in a mere forty minutes, showcasing her prowess.
- In the semi-final, Swiatek maintained her momentum by swiftly overcoming Coco Gauff, further establishing her readiness for the final. Yet, Naomi Osaka presented a significant challenge in the second round, where Swiatek narrowly edged out a win (7-6, 1-6, 7-5), underlining that adversity is not beyond her overcoming capabilities.
- The final against Jasmine Paolini is anticipated with much excitement. Paolini, a relative novice in the latter stages of major tournaments, has impressed with her fearless playing style at Roland-Garros. Her remarkable victories over renowned players like Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva have set the stage for a compelling match against the world number 1, Iga Swiatek.
