Paris, June 1, 2025 — In what will go down as one of the most riveting matches of the 2025 tennis season, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek displayed steely resolve and unshakable grit to defeat Elena Rybakina in a thrilling three-set showdown on the red clay of Roland Garros, booking her spot in the French Open quarter-finals.
The match, stretching just over three hours under the gray Parisian sky, ended with a dramatic scoreline of 5–7, 7–6(4), 6–4 in Swiatek’s favor. For much of the contest, the defending champion looked on the ropes, struggling to contain Rybakina’s thunderous groundstrokes and dominant first serve. But just when it seemed the Kazakh star might pull off a stunning upset, Swiatek flipped the switch in trademark fashion.
A Clash of Titans
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and fourth seed, came out firing, breaking Swiatek early in the first set. Her clean, flat hitting kept the Pole on the back foot, and she took the opener 7–5 after fending off a late surge.
Swiatek, who has won the French Open three times, was visibly frustrated throughout the second set as uncharacteristic errors mounted. Down 3–5, she saved two match points in a crucial 9th game that seemed to alter the course of the match. With the crowd roaring their support, she clawed her way back to force a tiebreak and edged it 7–4, sending the match into a decider.
Champion’s Mentality
The final set was a battle of wills. Rybakina continued to blast winners, but cracks began to show in her consistency. Swiatek, composed and calculated, used her superior movement and variety to extend rallies and draw errors. A pivotal break came at 4–4 after a 15-minute game filled with drop shots, lobs, and blistering baseline exchanges. Swiatek held her nerve to serve out the match, collapsing to her knees as the final point sailed long off Rybakina’s racquet.
“I honestly don’t know how I turned that around,” a breathless Swiatek said in her on-court interview. “Elena was playing unbelievable tennis. I just told myself to keep fighting, one point at a time.”
Looking Ahead
Swiatek, eyeing a historic fourth Roland Garros title, will now face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals. With Aryna Sabalenka already knocked out in a surprise upset, the path may be opening for Swiatek — but as today’s match showed, nothing comes easy at this level.
Tennis legends and commentators were quick to praise the quality of the match. Former champion Chris Evert called it “a modern classic,” while Eurosport’s Mats Wilander declared, “That’s why Swiatek is the best in the world — she finds a way.”
As the clay courts of Paris continue to write their yearly drama, Iga Swiatek’s latest act of defiance and brilliance only strengthens her growing legend.
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Quarter-Final Lineup So Far:
Iga Swiatek vs. Jasmine Paolini
Coco Gauff vs. Maria Sakkari (pending match completion)
[Others TBD as fourth-round action continues]
Stay tuned for more French Opencoverage as the tournament heats up.