MusaWhen Chris Evert speaks, you listen—especially when she’s talking about clay courts, the French Open, and the reigning queen of Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek. The 18-time Grand Slam champion, known for her poise and precision on clay, recently weighed in on Swiatek’s title defense in Paris. Her verdict? The tennis is there—but it’s the mental game that will make or break Iga’s campaign.
“It’s going to take a lot of mental strength,” Evert said bluntly, pointing to the immense pressure Swiatek is carrying as a three-time French Open champion and the current World No. 1. With a target on her back and every player in the draw aiming to dethrone her, Swiatek isn’t just playing opponents—she’s battling expectations.
Evert knows all too well how suffocating success can be. Staying on top is often harder than getting there, and Swiatek now faces the daunting task of defending her crown in a field stacked with hungry challengers like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff. Add to that the weight of history—trying to become just the third woman in the Open Era to win four French Open titles before turning 24—and you’ve got a recipe for serious pressure.
Still, if anyone’s equipped for the challenge, it’s Iga. She’s shown flashes of mental toughness throughout the season, clawing through tight matches and handling big moments with steel. But Evert’s warning is clear: titles are earned above the neck, not just with the racquet.
Paris won’t just be about red clay and forehands—it’ll be a test of nerve, resilience, and champion-level grit. Swiatek has the game. Now, she just needs the mindset to match.
John Owolabi
Musa
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