Iga Świątek’s French Open match against Elena Rybakina was of the highest quality earlier today, with the defending champion coming out on top.
However, at one point, she seemed nowhere near advancing into the quarter-finals, having lost the first set 6-1 and stumbled a break down in the second set.
The four-time winner at Roland Garros was staring down the barrel of a fourth-round exit.
Fortunately, she once again showcased her unrelenting mindset to battle back and win the match.
It’s ironic that the former world number one actually endured such a slow start to today’s match, given all the coverage her pre-match warm-up is now receiving.
Iga Swiatek ridiculed for her pre-match warm-up
Pictured with headphones on and racket in hand, Swiatek clearly wanted to inject some energy into her preparation for the match.
However, the manner in which she did that has garnered attention, as she goes full-on with her erratic and explosive shadow swings.
One fan wrote on X: ‘She is insane but that’s why she is one of the best’
Another concurred by outlining just how tiring it looked, stating: ‘And shadow swings are just so exhausting I don’t know what it is.’
Iga Swiatek shows her champion mindset at Roland Garros
Swiatek’s comeback showcased the champion mindset that has allowed her to dominate at the French Open for so many years and claim five Grand Slam titles by the age of just 24.
The Polish superstar has overcome great adversity to claim all that silverware, and is not afraid to grind out a hard-fought win if needed.
That is, despite Swiatek often bludgeoning her opponents into submission with relentless hitting.
Today, however, Rybakina matched her blow-for-blow, and actually came so close to bagelling her opponent. That truly would have been one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.
But it just outlines the spirit Swiatek boasts to bounce right back, even if she can’t attribute any of that success to her odd pre-match routine.
Given that Serena Williams’ former coach said that Roland Garros marks a turning point in Swiatek’s career, it’s fair to say that she’s passing the test.
However, perhaps she will need to find a new way to prepare for her matches going forward to ensure she does not suffer from another slow start in her quarter-final match vs Elina Svitolina.
