Swiatek inspired by Nadal as title defence begins

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek said she was “inspired a lot” by seeing Rafael Nadal on Court Philippe Chatrier once again as she began her French Open title defence with victory over Rebecca Sramkova.

The three-time defending champion claimed her 22nd successive French Open match win as she beat Slovakia’s Sramkova 6-3 6-3 on the main court in Paris.

Swiatek, bidding for a fifth French Open title in six years, has suffered a downturn in form in recent months and dropped to fifth in the world rankings.

For the first time since 2020, she arrives at the clay-court major without winning a WTA title in the first five months of the season.

The Pole, along with defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, were in the crowd for a tribute ceremony to 14-time champion Nadal on Sunday.

“I knew the cameras were on Carlos [Alcaraz] behind me so I needed to be brave, but seeing Rafa crying makes me more emotional,” Swiatek said.

“It’s great the tennis world could show their appreciation and tell Rafa we are really thankful for everything he did. He is a huge inspiration.

Swiatek is known for making a fast start but she had to fight her way through her first service game against 42nd-ranked Sramkova.

She won the final three games of the first set to take the lead but was broken to 15 in the opening game of the second.

However, Swiatek stuck in, breaking back for 3-3 before winning the next three games to set up a meeting with Britain’s Emma Raducanu.

Afterwards, Swiatek recalled speaking to Nadal in Paris in 2021 after his semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic – the same year Swiatek’s title defence ended in the quarter-finals.

“I was devastated that he lost and the next day, he was just sitting there after breakfast or something, and I asked him how does he feel?” Swiatek said.

“He was chill. He was like, ‘oh, it’s just a tennis match. I’ll get many more chances’.