French Open 2022: Iga Swiatek's projected path to the final
With five titles on the trot and an incredible 28-match winning streak, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2022 French Open.
Following her triumphs in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami on hardcourt earlier in the season, the Pole added trophies at Stuttgart and Rome on clay to her resume. During her dominant run, the 20-year-old earned seven victories against top-10 players.
As the impeccable Swiatek begins her quest for a second Roland Garros title, here's a detailed look at her projected path to the final:
Iga Swiatek's 1st-round opponent - A qualifier
Swiatek will learn the identity of her first-round opponent once the qualifiers are placed. None of them are likely to pose much of a threat to the Pole.
Iga Swiatek's likely 2nd-round opponent - Alison Riske / Dayana Yastremska
The top seed will take on the winner of the clash between World No. 42 Alison Riske and the 80th-ranked Dayana Yastremska in the second round. While Riske trails Swiatek 0-2 in their head-to-head, Yastremska won her only encounter with the World No. 1 back in 2019.
Iga Swiatek's likely 3rd-round opponent - Liudmila Samsonova
Iga Swiatek's first real challenge at the French Open is likely to come in the form of World No. 26 Liudmila Samsonova in the third round. The two were involved in a grueling three-setter in the Stuttgart semifinals this year, with the Pole just about managing a win.
Iga Swiatek's likely 4th-round opponent - Simona Halep / Jelena Ostapenko
The path gets tougher for the top seed, with former champions Simona Halep and Jelena Ostapenko potentially lying in wait in the fourth round.
Swiatek hasn't beaten Ostapenko in three meetings so far. In fact, the 2017 Roland Garros champion remains the last player to have beaten Swiatek this year before the Pole embarked on her remarkable run.
However, Ostapenko is currently in a slump. Since winning the title in Dubai and reaching the Doha semifinals, the World No. 13 has endured a five-match losing streak.
Few enter #RolandGarros in better form than @iga_swiatek
But pitfalls may lie ahead in a women's draw littered with contenders 👇
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Halep and Swiatek, on the other hand, have split their four meetings so far, with the Pole winning their most recent clash at Indian Wells in March this year.
Iga Swiatek's likely quarter-final opponent - Jessica Pegula / Ekaterina Alexandrova
Both Jessica Pegula and Ekaterina Alexandrova have had stellar campaigns on clay this season and one of them will likely reach the quarterfinals.
Madrid runner-up Pegula beat Swiatek in 2019 and will fancy her chances should they meet once more.
Alexandrova, meanwhile, managed a win over Swiatek just last year.
Iga Swiatek's likely semi-final opponent - Paula Badosa / Aryna Sabalenka
Last year's Roland Garros quarterfinalist Paula Badosa made a brilliant start to the clay season, reaching the semifinals in Stuttgart and the last eight in Charleston. Since then, however, the Spaniard has struggled for wins.
Should the World No. 3 navigate her way to the last four, she will need to be at her absolute best to tackle Swiatek. The Pole beat the Spaniard in their most recent meeting at the 2021 WTA Finals.
World No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka, too, hasn't had a very productive season, although she did show flashes of her brilliance during the clay swing. Sabalenka managed a runner-up showing in Stuttgart and a semifinal appearance in Rome. Incidentally, both times she was stopped by none other than Swiatek.
Iga Swiatek's likely opponent in the final - Ons Jabeur
World No. 6 Ons Jabeur is in the form of her life, having lifted the title in Madrid and reached the final in Rome and Charleston.
The Tunisian is a former junior champion at the French Open but has never been past the fourth round at the senior level. Given the kind of form she has brought with her to Paris, she has a great chance of correcting that record.
However, toppling Swiatek will require a monumental effort. She was blown away by the 20-year-old in the Rome final and knows that it will take an absolutely flawless display to halt the Polish juggernaut in the French capital.
"How to beat you?" @Ons_Jabeur
*shows water bottle* "Put something in here" @iga_swiatek 😂
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