Iga Świątek has been encouraged to reignite her career at Roland Garros this year, after a tough patch of form that has extended back nearly 12 months now.
With her last title actually coming in Paris, her struggles are only highlighted further.
Usually, though, the clay-court season is often the saviour should she be struggling elsewhere. This time, it has not been so kind for the 24-year-old.
However, one notable figure within the tennis community has encouraged her to battle through this tough patch, retain her title at Roland Garros and turn her career back in the right direction.
Iga Swiatek encouraged to reignite her career at Roland Garros
That man in question is Rick Macci, most famed for being the coach who laid the foundations for Serena and Venus Williams’ wild success.
Having nurtured them as youngsters, he knows a thing or two about creating legends, and with the rate Swiatek has started at the French Open, she seems certain to become one herself.
That is, despite a recent drop in form, which Macci outlined on X: ‘‘Iga is at a turning point in her career. One tournament is just one tournament. But because of the past and mentally going Away she can do a 360 because she is a champion and knows the Way.’
Then turning his attention to the draw, he continued: ‘Iga has a brutal draw. It does not matter. When the road is more difficult and tough it is sometimes the best medicine to get THE BIG C and make you more rough. She needs to love to go face to face with this nightmare Draw and remember you are playing a faceless person and just the Ball.’
Can Iga Swiatek win another French Open title?
It would be foolish to bet against the defending champion, no matter how spotty her form has been in the lead-up to the event.
After all, Swiatek admitted she’s excited to be back at Roland Garros, hungry to retain her crown.
Losing in the quarter-finals, Round of 32 and semi-finals of Stuttgart, Rome and Madrid respectively is not the kind of preparation she would have envisioned before returning to Paris, but history dictates that she should still be feared.
Especially given she is a four-time champion at the French Open, boasting a 95% win rate at the event.
Her draw is tough, with Emma Raducanu, Marta Kostyuk and Jelena Ostapenko set to stand in her way in just the opening four rounds, but she would have had to beat players of this calibre to win the whole thing anyway.
Discounting Swiatek would be a naive move, but she is not the dominant force she once was. The crown is there for the taking.
