Swiatek stays grounded after first-round victory

IGA Swiatek said her defeat at last year’s Paris Olympics proved she is not unbeatable at Roland Garros, as she launched her bid for a fourth consecutive French Open title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova on Monday.

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Swiatek extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 22 matches, yet the Pole has dropped to fifth in the world rankings after a year-long trophy drought and has appeared unusually vulnerable on clay of late.

The 23-year-old has not reached a final this season and is no longer the overwhelming favourite at the tournament she has dominated since claiming her first title there as a teenager in 2020.

Asked whether stepping onto Court Philippe Chatrier fills her with the same sense of invincibility that once surrounded Rafael Nadal, Swiatek pointed to her straight-sets defeat to Zheng Qinwen at the 2024 Paris Olympics.