Iga Swiatek Loses Italian Open, Faces Form Questions Ahead French Open

Iga Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion and dominant force on clay courts for over three years, is facing a challenging season marked by early exits and a drop to World No. 5, her lowest ranking since 2021. Despite being a four-time Roland Garros winner, Swiatek has struggled to find consistent form in 2025, suffering heavy defeats at major tournaments including Madrid and Rome, and facing a difficult draw at the upcoming French Open that could pit her against top rivals early. Her performance issues have been attributed to insufficient practice time, mental fatigue, coaching changes, and the psychological toll of maintaining perfectionism and defending her titles. French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo noted that the key for Swiatek to reclaim confidence will be a strong start in the early rounds, although her current low confidence is unprecedented for her. The combination of off-court disruptions, a provisional doping suspension (later overturned), and a lack of finals appearances since her 2024 French Open victory have compounded doubts about her ability to extend her reign on clay. Observers highlight that Swiatek has struggled to regain control on court, emphasizing that her recent performances represent the toughest phase of her career since becoming World No. 1.