Iga Swiatek’s Decline Sparks Outrage and Support: Can the ‘Queen of Clay’ Rise Again at Roland Garros?
Once hailed as the unstoppable “Queen of Clay,” Iga Swiatek is now facing one of the most challenging phases of her career. Since winning the French Open in June 2024, the former world number one hasn’t lifted a single trophy. Fans had high hopes as the clay court season returned, expecting her dominance to resume. But the reality has been far from it. Swiatek exited early in Stuttgart, Madrid, and most recently, Rome—failing to defend two major titles and plummeting to world number four, her lowest WTA ranking since 2022.
This alarming drop has fueled harsh media scrutiny, especially from her homeland, Poland. Speculations ran wild, including false reports about Swiatek skipping Wimbledon. The 23-year-old swiftly denied them, saying, “There’s a lot of stuff about me that are not true.” Matters worsened when she described a disturbing encounter with paparazzi after the Miami Open, where photographers followed her near her apartment. Swiatek pleaded for privacy, telling them, “This is off-limits.”
These incidents triggered strong reactions from tennis personalities, none louder than former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick. On his podcast Served, Roddick condemned Polish journalists for their treatment of Swiatek. “If you are a sports journalist in Poland and you are crushing Iga on a week-to-week basis, you are a f—ing moron,” he said bluntly. He compared Poland’s media to Italy’s, where Jannik Sinner received a standing ovation from the press in Rome. “She’s the greatest sportsperson you have ever had… you should be throwing a parade every time she talks to you.”
Roddick’s support isn’t new. He defended Swiatek when she failed a doping test last year, insisting it was a misunderstanding and not true doping. Even after her Australian Open semifinal loss to Madison Keys in January 2025, Roddick continued praising her, drawing comparisons to Rafael Nadal and predicting she would win multiple Slams beyond clay.
However, Iga’s current form tells a different story. Her shocking 1-6, 5-7 loss to Danielle Collins in the round of 32 at the Italian Open was a wake-up call. Swiatek admitted, “I wasn’t present to fight and compete,” and even confessed it would be “stupid to expect a lot” at the upcoming French Open. Still, she returned to Paris early to begin training at Roland Garros, determined to rewrite the narrative.
Swiatek’s goal isn’t just another title—it’s legacy. With four French Open trophies already, she’s chasing Chris Evert’s record of seven. Can she bounce back? Some believe so.
Coco Gauff, a fellow contender, believes Swiatek remains dangerous: “If someone wins a tournament that many times… they can definitely figure out a way to win again.” Others like John Isner and Chris Evert are more cautious. Isner said Swiatek “could turn things around,” but warned she hasn’t played like a top contender in a year. Evert admitted uncertainty: “I just don’t know if she can find her A game.”
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka’s recent consistency and dominance has added pressure. But Roddick once again backed Swiatek by pointing out the age gap: “Iga had it figured out at 19… she’ll have lived another lifetime of tennis before reaching Sabalenka’s age.”
With expectations high, Swiatek’s story at the 2025 French Open is shaping up to be one of redemption or reinforcement of doubt. Will she silence the critics and prove she’s still the queen of the red dirt? All eyes now turn to Paris.