Iga Swiatek, the World No. 2 and four-time French Open champion, enters the build-up to Roland Garros 2025 with questions about her form. After dominating the Paris clay for years, her season has been inconsistent by her high standards, raising doubts among fans about her ability to secure a fifth title. Let’s look closer at her chances for defending her French Open crown.
Mixed 2025 Season
Swiatek’s 2025 season began promisingly but has lacked her usual consistency. She defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-5 in the Doha quarterfinals in February, showing flashes of her 2024 brilliance when she won Doha’s title. However, she has not reached a final since Roland Garros 2024, a stark contrast to her typical dominance. Her 22-6 record this year is strong but marred by early exits.
Swiatek’s clay stats remain formidable, with a 51.6% break percentage and 85.1% hold percentage over the past year. Yet, her 2025 clay season has been error-prone and we’ve seen plenty of unforced errors, especially against Ostapenko in Stuttgart and vs against Eala in Madrid. Her 35-2 career record at Roland Garros, with losses only to Maria Sakkari in 2021 and Zheng Qinwen in the 2024 Olympics semifinal, shows her dominance there, but will it be different this time?
Despite the struggles with top form, bookmakers list her as the favorite, at odds around +100 or 2.00. Tennis events like this offer a chance to compare offshore betting experience with local ones. Offshore betting platforms typically provide more flexible odds, bonuses and also tournament coverage.
Factors Affecting Her Form
Swiatek’s game, defined by heavy topspin forehands, fluid movement and tactical versatility, thrives on clay. In 2024, she won five titles, including Doha, Madrid, Rome and the French Open. Her Madrid-Rome-Paris sweep was impressive, a feat only Serena Williams achieved in 2013. However, 2025 has exposed vulnerabilities. Her serve, typically reliable on clay, has wavered, and the demands of 125 weeks as World no 1, coupled with a dense schedule, may be taking a toll.
Former No. 1 Dinara Safina had previously predicted that Karolina Muchova could end Swiatek’s Roland Garros reign in 2025, citing her inconsistent season. Muchova’s varied game pushed Swiatek to three sets in the 2023 final. Still, Swiatek has overcome slumps before. In 2023, a thigh injury forced her to retire in Rome, but she won Roland Garros weeks later, stating, “I’m pretty positive that I’ll be back soon.” Currently injury-free, continuing her title defense in Madrid, she plans to later compete in Rome (May 6–18) to refine her game ahead of Paris.
Prospects for Roland Garros 2025
Roland Garros is where Swiatek shines. Her 35-2 record and four titles (2020, 2022–2024) rank her alongside Justine Henin, and at 23, she’s the youngest to win four French Opens in the Open Era. Her 2024 title run overcame a match point against Naomi Osaka (7-6, 1-6, 7-5) and ended with a 20-match clay streak.
The competition, however, is tough. Aryna Sabalenka, whom Swiatek leads 8-4 head-to-head, poses a threat after winning the Australian Open. Coco Gauff, 3-11 against Swiatek, won their last two encounters at the WTA Finals last year and the 2025 United Cup. Muchova’s crafty play and Ostapenko’s 6-0 record against Swiatek are concerns, as are Elena Rybakina and Zheng Qinwen, the latter having upset Swiatek at the 2024 Olympics. The Italian Open could help Swiatek regain momentum, but her Roland Garros history suggests she can excel without it.
Swiatek’s recent struggles are notable, but a bit of momentum and she can still be the player to beat in Paris. A strong showing in Rome could restore her confidence, but even without it, her track record points to a deep run.
