Mats Wilander, a tennis expert for Eurosport, believes that Iga Swiatek is the clear favourite to win another French Open crown this year. Swiatek, who is the defending champion, has been dominating on clay by winning titles at the Madrid Open and Italian Open recently. Wilander is impressed by Swiatek’s game and believes that her confidence and success on clay will help her on other surfaces as well. He thinks that Swiatek is likely to continue her dominance at Roland-Garros for years to come, much like Rafael Nadal has done in the men’s event.
Swiatek has earned the nickname ‘Queen of Clay’ for her impressive record on the surface, winning 77 out of 87 matches played on clay, including three Grand Slam finals in Paris. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win both the Rome and Madrid titles this spring. Wilander believes that Swiatek’s success is likely to continue at Roland-Garros and predicts that she could win at least seven or eight titles at the tournament if she stays healthy. He compares Swiatek’s dominance at the French Open to Nadal’s success in the men’s event.
Despite Swiatek’s strong position as the favourite for the French Open, Wilander acknowledges that there is always a chance for upsets in tennis. He mentions that in a women’s tournament, it is possible for a player like Sabalenka to have an exceptional performance and potentially defeat Swiatek, although he sees this as a very slim possibility. Wilander believes that Swiatek’s consistency and confidence will help her navigate any challenges she faces during the tournament, and he expects her to perform well in the upcoming matches.
Wilander praises Swiatek’s game and her ability to adapt to different conditions on the court. He notes that while there may be some limitations in her game, they are rarely exposed due to her strong performances on clay. Swiatek’s success in recent tournaments and her ability to distance herself from other top players like Sabalenka and Rybakina bode well for her future on different surfaces. Wilander sees Swiatek’s continued growth and improvement as a sign of her potential to dominate in tennis for years to come.
Fans can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+. This coverage allows viewers to stay updated on the matches, results, and highlights of the tournament. With Swiatek as the clear favourite for the championship, tennis fans can look forward to exciting matches and strong performances from the defending champion. Wilander’s prediction of Swiatek’s continued success at Roland-Garros and her potential to win multiple titles in the future sets the stage for an exciting competition at the French Open, with Swiatek leading the pack as the ‘Queen of Clay.’
