French Open: ‘Aggressive’ Iga Swiatek ‘More Than Ready’ for Sabalenka Showdown| Roland-Garros, Paris — June 4, 2025
SME News Europe. Iga Swiatek is hitting peak form just in time for her highly anticipated French Open semi-final clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Former pro and Eurosport analyst Alex Corretja believes the four-time Roland-Garros champion is now “more than ready” to capture yet another Paris crown — and it’s her newfound aggression that could make the difference.Swiatek entered the tournament facing doubts about her form, having gone over a year without lifting a WTA title. But the Polish star has silenced the skeptics with a dominant run to the semi-finals, dropping just one set along the way and recording a statement victory over 12th seed Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.“Swiatek is playing more aggressively than before,” Corretja said. “She moves extremely well and her belief grew after that win over Rybakina. She needed a tough match like that to reignite her confidence — now she’s more than ready.”Her convincing quarter-final performance against Elina Svitolina showcased her relentless control of rallies. Swiatek dismantled the Ukrainian without allowing any room for retaliation.“It was so difficult for Svitolina,” Corretja explained. “She didn’t have any weapons to hurt her. Iga’s level is just too high right now.”Swiatek’s record at Roland-Garros speaks for itself. With 26 straight wins on the clay of Paris, she has become the second-fastest player in history to reach 40 match wins at the tournament, trailing only Rafael Nadal.Meanwhile, Sabalenka presents a formidable challenge. The Belarusian has improved her movement and footwork significantly, elements that have transformed her into a more well-rounded player on clay. Corretja believes her development will make Thursday’s semi-final an electrifying contest.But with Swiatek firing on all cylinders and brimming with belief, the reigning queen of Roland-Garros may be poised to extend her dominance on the red dirt.
