Iga Swiatek expressed her confidence as she aims to become only the fourth woman to win four Roland Garros singles titles in the Open era.
The world number one could also be the first player to secure three consecutive women’s titles in Paris since Justine Henin in 2007 when the French Open begins on Sunday.
Swiatek is the favourites after another dominant clay-court season, arriving in Paris following WTA 1000 victories in Madrid and Rome.
Serena Williams is the only female player to have completed a Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros treble in a single season.
However, Swiatek, who will face French qualifier, Leolia Jeanjean in the first round, is undaunted by the potential milestones ahead.
“I would lie if I would say I’m not nervous, because everybody is, I think,” Swiatek told reporters on Friday.
“There is a lot of pressure, especially when you play well and you already know that you can achieve this step, people are expecting it to happen again and again and again.
“So there is pressure, but I wouldn’t say I’m more nervous than usual… I’m also pretty confident with how I’m playing right now and with the work we have been doing,” she added.
The 22-year-old Pole, Iga Swiatek, has many years ahead to pursue records but is making swift progress—her four WTA 1000 titles this season have brought her career total to 10.
This tally is just 13 shy of Serena Williams’ all-time record.
With four Grand Slam titles, Swiatek has consistently translated her form to major tournaments.
Swiatek aims to join Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin in winning the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen four times in the Open era.
Her main challenge is Aryna Sabalenka.
The Belarusian missed three match points before losing to Swiatek in a thrilling Madrid final and hopes for another chance after a one-sided defeat in Rome.
Sabalenka, the two-time reigning Australian Open champion, has reached at least the semi-finals in the past six Grand Slam events.
She is also the only woman to beat Swiatek in a clay final—last year in Madrid—since Swiatek lost her first WTA title decider as a teenager in 2019 at a minor event in Switzerland.
Swiatek remarked that neither she nor Sabalenka are distracted by their rivalry.
“We’ll see if it’s going to go into the history books, because honestly, I don’t think either I or Aryna are focusing on that.
“But for sure this rivalry is exciting for the fans… . I think it’s also pushing me to become a better and better player, so I think we both kind of need each other to grow,” she added.
Despite having an 8-3 losing record against Swiatek, Sabalenka expressed her desire to face her again in Paris after their match in Rome.
“Even though I lost these two finals, I mean, I never focus on the past.
“No matter how many times I lose to the player, I know anyway if I’ll be there, if I’ll be fighting, I’ll be focusing on myself, I know that I can get that win.
“I mean, I’m going there with the confidence that I can do well there,” she maintained.
Until last year, Sabalenka had never advanced past the first week at Roland Garros, but she reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Karolina Muchova.
“I’m definitely not the favourite probably there,” she stated.
