As if the disappointing exit in Madrid, following a crushing defeat against Coco Gauff, wasn’t enough, Iga Swiatek just faced another setback in Rome. Life can be brutal sometimes, right? Just last season, the former World No.1 emerged as a champion in both the tournaments ahead of a triumphant Roland Garros campaign.
But look at her situation now. It’s surely not looking good by any means. On Saturday, Danielle Collins handed the Pole a shocker in R64 at the Italian Open. After four years, she failed to enter the R16 of a WTA 1000 event. But more than that, the loss has seriously hampered her hopes before stepping on the Parisian clay court this season. Is she even thinking about winning anymore?
Prior to their latest meeting, Collins was trailing 1-7 against Swiatek in H2H battle. However, the past stats faded into the dust that settled down after the victory of the American WTA pro. She dominated the Pole in straight sets and sealed her entry in R16 with a score line of 6-1, 7-5. While the result brought immense happiness for the Americans, Swiatek was obviously left devastated.
During the post-match press conference on Saturday, the Pole didn’t hide her feelings in admitting the shortcomings against Collins. “For sure, it hasn’t been easy. For sure, I’m doing something wrong. So I need to just regroup and kind change some stuff. I had some advice from the team. I’ll just try to do this.” On failing to come back in the match, she revealed, “I don’t know. Well, I think I just wasn’t there, present to, like, fight and to compete. I focused on mistakes. It’s my mistake, and I’m not doing things right.”
But then, she went on to share a concerning update, especially considering her chances at the French Open this year. So what’s going on in her mind right now? When asked about her honest expectations, Swiatek didn’t mince her words. “Obviously it would be stupid to expect a lot because I’m not able to play my game right now. I’ll just try to, you know, as I said, change my mindset a little bit, try to regroup and just focus day by day working.”
Iga Świątek po meczu z Danielle Collins pic.twitter.com/v7vwxyER5P
— Michał Chojecki (@chechaouen) May 10, 2025
Reporters tried to remind her that in the past many other greats have managed to lift the trophy in Paris despite entering with no form. Does that give her the motivation to be confident enough? She replied, “I don’t care what other people had. There’s no point to compare.” So isn’t she getting any feeling of bouncing back at the French Open? “It doesn’t matter what things I get. Every year is different, so… Doesn’t matter.”
While she may not be looking at a brighter side right now, it seems the key to her resurgence in 2025 lies in her past. In fact, this year could be the perfect replication of a similar season when she went into the French Open on the back of a heartbreaking loss in Rome, five years ago. You know what happened next? She won the slam while beginning her undisputed era on the Parisian clay court.
Iga Swiatek may witness a resurgence by taking inspiration from maiden French Open triumph in 2020
Let’s rewind the time back to September 2020. Italian Open, first round. A young but confident Iga Swiatek faced Dutch player Arantxa Rus on the clay court. Before the match, the Pole was certain to edge out her opponent and advance ahead. But Rus stunned her and took the battle in straight sets with a score line of 7-6, 6-3. This defeat was so huge for Swiatek that she couldn’t even think of playing any further.
Back in May 2023, she recalled this low moment from her career. Speaking in a conference during the Italian Open campaign, she revealed, “Well this match, I remember it like a pretty traumatic one. She (Arantxa) played, like, high balls. It really worked here on this slow surface. I couldn’t manage that properly. I was making a lot of mistakes. I didn’t feel really well.”
Then she entered the 2020 French Open in October. But the impact of defeat against Rus was still bothering her. So much so, that she even considered leaving Paris! “I literally had the talk with Daria (Abramowicz) if it makes sense to continue everything because I felt so bad.” But guess what? She was eventually able to reset her mind and focus on playing aggressively. Result? After Justine Henin in 2007, Swiatek became the first woman to win the French Open without losing a set in any match. In the final, she bested Sofia Kenin in straight sets (6-4, 6-1).
It was the beginning of her prowess in Paris. Since then, she’s won the clay court major four times. And three of those titles have come successively in last three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024). Now in 2025, the situation is no different. Her morale is down with a defeat in Rome. The mindset seems to be anything but positive. But can we expect her to lift her spirits once again and emerge triumphant for the fifth time at the Roland Garros? What are your thoughts on her prospects this season? Let us know in the comments below.
The post “Stupid to Expect a Lot” – Iga Swiatek Makes Honest Confession Ahead of Roland Garros After a Heartbreaking Rome Setback appeared first on EssentiallySports.