Iga Swiatek has struggled to get over the line in big matches so far this year, and is yet to reach a WTA final in 2025.
The world number two began the year with aspirations of reclaiming the number one ranking from her greatest rival, Aryna Sabalenka.
Having earned 1,265 points less than the Belarussian in 2025, those dreams now seem distant, as Swiatek failed to defend her titles in Doha and at Indian Wells.
The Polish WTA star will now travel to Europe for the clay court season, a stretch of the year where she won three titles in 2024.
Ahead of her return to action in Stuttgart, one ATP legend has a big question for Swiatek.
Andy Roddick questions whether it’s ‘less certain’ Iga Swiatek will win the 2025 French Open than before
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, former world number one Andy Roddick shared his thoughts on whether Sabalenka has closed the gap to Swiatek ahead of the clay season.
“I don’t know, I know what I’m going to say, ‘It feels like she’s gaining on her’, then we’re going to see Iga [Swiatek] play on clay for the first time and she starts smoking people and we’re like ‘Oh yeah obviously’,” he said.
“Iga’s so good, she loses sometimes, that’s the criticism. ‘Oh, she loses in the semis sometimes.’ She’s won five Majors, she’s going to be the favorite.
“For the last five years, we would’ve taken Iga against the field at Roland Garros; that’s how dominant she’s been on clay.
“What the question is, is it less certain this year and why?”
Roddick’s co-host, Jon Wertheim, certainly believes the 23-year-old’s aura of invincibility has waned.
“I think it‘s got to be; she’s won four of the last five Roland Garros’ but she’s not number one in the world, she’s taken some defeats,” he said.
“A few weeks ago she took to Instagram to write about mental health and the pressure she’s facing, that’s not ideal.
“I also think [Aryna] Sabalenka is a better clay court player than we give her credit for being.
“I think the big variable here is which Iga shows up, and what is her mindset, what is her happiness level, we know she can win 6-1, 6-1, the question now with Iga is if you can get her to 5-5, what’s going to happen to her.
“I think honestly it’s as much about Iga as it is about Sabalenka.”
Roddick wasn’t so sure, as he reflected upon Swiatek’s dominance on the surface over recent years.
“Here’s when I’m pretty sure where I’d have to question my mental health is if I had to play Iga on clay,” he said.
“I think that’s when I would question a lot of it, we try to navigate this question every year, it’s different if she wins in Miami, obviously, but do we change the entire clay court conversation moving in because of [Alexandra] Eala beating her?
“Also, she’s never lost a Grand Slam final, we talk about [if you get Swiatek] to 5-5 the pressure ramps up is she going to handle it?
“Yeah, she’s dominant; she doesn’t lose when she gets to a certain point in a tournament.”
Iga Swiatek’s record in Grand Slam finals
- 2024 French Open – Iga Swiatek beat Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-1
- 2023 French Open – Iga Swiatek beat Karolina Muchova, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
- 2022 US Open – Iga Swiatek beat Ons Jabeur, 6-2, 7-6
- 2022 French Open – Iga Swiatek beat Coco Gauff, 6-1, 6-3
- 2020 French Open – Iga Swiatek beat Sofia Kenin, 6-4, 6-1
The American is confident Swiatek remains the woman to beat on clay courts, regardless of her recent results.
“I don’t know, what I want to say is bet against the great at your own peril,” said Roddick.
“We’ve rarely had someone as good on one surface as Swiatek is on clay.
“I don’t want us to be lazy about what her greatness has looked like on clay over the last five years.”
Has Aryna Sabalenka ever beaten Iga Swiatek on clay?
Swiatek’s dominance on clay has been well-documented, but has Sabalenka ever beaten her on the red stuff?
The pair have faced off six times on the surface, with Sabalenka winning just once, in the final of the Madrid Open in 2023.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2024 Italian Open – F | Iga Swiatek | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2024 Madrid Open – F | Iga Swiatek | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 |
| 2023 Madrid Open – F | Aryna Sabalenka | Iga Swiatek | 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2023 Stuttgart Open – F | Iga Swiatek | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2022 Italian Open – SF | Iga Swiatek | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 2022 Stuttgart Open – F | Iga Swiatek | Aryna Sabalenka | 6-2, 6-2 |
Winning in three sets on the Spanish clay, Sabalenka took home the title, with an impressive 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Swiatek two years ago.
The pair could face off for a seventh time at this month’s Stuttgart Open, when they take to the court in Germany as the top two seeds.
Swiatek will begin her assault on a third Stuttgart Open title when the competition begins on April 14.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
