Iga Swiatek in recent years has become a reckoning force on the WTA Tour. Against every top player (except Elena Rybakina), she leads in the head-to-head record.
On clay, probably no one currently performs better than the Pole. She first caught the limelight when she won the 2020 French Open. Back then, no one had predicted that she would start to dominate on the red dirt and would win three consecutive titles at Roland Garros.
In the Major events in 2024, Swiatek made it to the third round of the Australian Open, won the French Open, got knocked out of the third round at Wimbledon, and was defeated in the quarterfinals at the US Open.
Swiatek is a five-time Grand Slam champion, but she may end up wrapping up her 2025 season without winning a major, even the French Open. Here are three reasons why she may end her 2025 season as a slamless
1. Iga Swiatek was tired after grueling matches on clay
Even though Iga Swiatek is a dominating force on clay, playing continuously without any break took a toll on her. In 2024, she started her campaign on the clay swing at the Stuttgart Open and reached the semifinal where eventual champion Elena Rybakina defeated her.
The 23-year-old then won three titles in a row! In the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals, she beat Aryna Sabalenka, before winning her third French Open on the trot with a win over Jasmine Paolini.
The next big task was to take home the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, where she was the heavy favorite because the tennis matches were held at the Roland Garros. Swiatek, however, suffered a shocking defeat to eventual champion Qinwen Zheng in the semifinals and later blamed the schedule.
As there will be no change in schedule in 2025, Swiatek may succumb to fatigue after signing up for mandatory tournaments and playing one tournament after the other. If she loses, it would be one of the biggest upsets of the season.
2. Iga Swiatek performed her best only at the French Open
Iga Swiatek, apart from the four French Opens, has won one US Open (in 2022). This only shows that she has not performed consistently in the Majors other than the French Open.
She has reached the semifinals in Australia but at Wimbledon, she never went past the quarterfinals. If she fails to win the French Open, then it would be difficult for her to take home other Majors as she could face tough challenges from players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
3. Doping controversy could affect Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek failed a drug test in August 2024 and was suspended for three weeks, during which she missed three tournaments on the Asian swing. Because of her inactivity, she was dethroned from the top of the rankings table by Aryna Sabalenka, who was also winning titles one after the other.
Although Swiatek is known for having a tough mentality, the doping controversy would end up affecting her, which in turn could impact her tennis. Other than Swiatek, men’s World No.1 Jannik Sinner is also embroiled in doping controversy and is waiting for the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Although the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared Sinner bore no fault or negligence, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) approached the CAS to demand a ban. If WADA decides to intervene in Swiatek’s case, she too could face a possible ban, which may ruin her Grand Slam plans.
