July 25, (THEWILL) – World number one, Iga Swiatek, is poised to make her mark at the 2024 Paris Olympics, aiming to add Olympic gold to her impressive tally of four French Open titles. The 23-year-old Polish tennis sensation returns to the familiar clay courts of Roland Garros, where she has established a formidable reputation.
Swiatek’s dominance on the Parisian red clay is undeniable, having clinched victory in four of the past five French Open tournaments. Her unbeaten streak at Roland Garros extends back to 2021, when she suffered a quarter-final defeat to Greece’s Maria Sakkari. The five-time Grand Slam champion, who also boasts a US Open title from 2022, is determined to improve upon her performance at the Tokyo Games, where she exited in the second round.
Following an early departure from Wimbledon 2024, where her 21-match winning streak came to an abrupt end, Swiatek has had ample time to prepare for the Olympic challenge. The Polish star acknowledged the need for rest and reflection, stating: “I’m going to take a lesson and rest a bit more. I feel like even though I didn’t perform well at this tournament, because of how the whole season is looking, I deserve it.”
Swiatek’s journey to tennis stardom began with her breakthrough at the 2020 French Open, where she became the first Polish player to secure a Grand Slam singles title. Since then, she has dominated the event, joining the ranks of tennis legends like Justine Henin, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf. Her recent victory at Roland Garros in 2024 marked her fourth title at the tournament, further cementing her status as a clay-court powerhouse.
With a strong sporting lineage – her father Tomasz represented Poland in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics – Swiatek’s competitive spirit has been evident from an early age. Her first coach, Artur Szostaczko, recalls her exceptional focus and determination even as a young player.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
