Iga Swiatek Starts French Open Title Defense Amid Ranking Drop, Nadal Era Ends

Iga Swiatek, the four-time defending French Open champion, enters Roland-Garros 2025 facing significant challenges despite her historic 21-match winning streak at the tournament. Her ranking has dropped to fifth, the lowest since March 2022, and she has not won a title since last year's French Open, leading to questions about her form and confidence. Swiatek’s lower seeding could force early matchups against strong contenders like Emma Raducanu and Jelena Ostapenko, the latter holding a 6-0 head-to-head advantage. The absence of tennis legends Rafael Nadal, who recently retired, and Serena Williams has made the tournament more open, with many potential new champions expected in both the men's and women's draws. Swiatek is working to regain her focus and motivation, practicing extensively in Paris to recapture the form that brought her previous success. Experts emphasize the need for a rebuilding approach to her game as she aims to become the first woman to win four consecutive French Open titles in the Open Era.