PARIS: Iga Swiatek is returning to the scene of her greatest triumphs as she seeks to add Olympic gold to her glittering tennis resume. The Polish world number one has dominated the French Open, winning four of the past five titles and boasting an impressive unbeaten run since 2021.
The 23-year-old, who also claimed the 2022 US Open, is determined to improve on her second-round exit at the Tokyo Olympics. Her early departure from Wimbledon, where she suffered a shock defeat to Yulia Putintseva, has afforded Swiatek ample time to prepare for the Paris Games.
“For sure I’m going to take a lesson and rest a bit more,” Swiatek said following her Wimbledon exit. “I feel like even though I didn’t perform well at this tournament, because of how the whole season is looking, I deserve it.”
Swiatek’s meteoric rise began at the 2020 French Open, where she clinched the title without dropping a set, becoming the first Polish Grand Slam champion. She has since established herself as the queen of clay, completing the Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros treble last month – a feat previously achieved only by Serena Williams.
Her father, Tomasz Swiatek, represented Poland in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, suggesting a sporting pedigree. Artur Szostaczko, Swiatek’s first coach, recalls a fiercely competitive young girl. “She was a fighter,” he said. “I knew that if it went to a super tie-break, there was no need to worry – Iga wouldn’t crack under the pressure.”
