Tennis legend Martina Navratilova thinks Iga Swiatek is definitely a strong French Open favorite as she noted that the pressure doesn’t seem to be getting to the Pole at all. Swiatek hasn’t had a loss in three months as she has won her last 28 matches and will be looking to win her sixth consecutive title at the French open.
Swiatek has been absolutely dominant in recent months and this clay season she has dropped only one set in nine matches played. Many think Swiatek is the dominant French Open favorite and Navratilova seems to agree with that.
“You can’t be in better form than she is right now. She’s playing great and she’s healthy – that’s a fantastic combination. She’s fresh and battle-tough at the same time. She looks pretty unbeatable on any surface, particularly the clay now.
So we have an overwhelming favorite going into the French, when it was wide open last year. Clearly, the pressure is not bothering her. She’s just embracing that. It’s great to see – when you are the favorite, and you keep on winning,” Navratilova told the WTA Tour website.
Jelena Ostapenko the last player to beat Swiatek
Swiatek hasn’t lost a match since losing to Ostapenko in the Dubai round-of-16. Even then, Swiatek fell just short as Ostapenko claimed a narrow 4-6 6-1 7-6 (4) win. Ostapenko ended up winning Dubai and reaching the Doha semifinal the following week but has been struggling with her form since March.
Ostapenko is 0-2 this clay season and Navratilova was also asked if the 2017 French Open champion could make another deep run at Roland Garros. “She put together a terrific February, winning the Dubai 500 and reaching the semifinals of the Doha 1000, losing there to Anett Kontaveit.
Since then, though, she’s been one-and-done in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome. In April, her ranking rose to No.11, her highest since 2018. Still only 24, she is the youngest active former champ after Swiatek,” Navratilova said of Ostapenko.
