Iga Świątek’s supporters have been celebrating the Pole’s entry into the semifinals of the French Open. The three-time defending champion, who is bidding for a fifth title at the tournament, overcame 13th-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 on Tuesday, June 3.
Jasmien Clijsner, married to Świątek’s coach Wim Fissette, took to Instagram to celebrate the Pole’s progress. After the five-time Grand Slam champion registered her win, Clijsner posted a clip of her match point on her Instagram stories.
Iga Świątek Had to ‘Fight for Every Point’ Against Elina Svitolina
Despite dispatching Elina Svitolina in one hour and 41 minutes, Iga Świątek agreed that the victory was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggested.
“Even though in the first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn’t like that in any other games,” Swiatek said in her press conference. “I had to fight for every point. I’m happy that I also stepped up when she broke me in the second set and that I kept my intensity until the end.”
Notably, Elina Svitolina rode a rich vein of form into Roland-Garros, having captured a clay title in Rouen, reached the semifinals in Madrid, and advanced to the last eight stage in Rome.
Fissette’s wife, Clijsner, was thrilled at the Pole’s resilient display and showed her support from afar. The Belgian coach started his collaboration with Iga Świątek in October 2024 after she parted ways with her long-time coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski. The pair have yet to reach a tournament final together.
Świątek’s relatively routine win against her Ukrainian opponent came days after a titanic tussle with familiar foe Elena Rybakina, which the Pole eked out 7-5 in the third set. She will next face off against another familiar opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, after the World No. 1 came through in her match against China’s Zheng Qinwen.
Ahead of the match, Świątek has admitted that the rivalry is pushing both competitors. “For sure our rivalry is pushing both of us, but it’s not only about the level of tennis. It’s about everything, how we work, and how professional we are.”
Although Swiatek holds an 8-4 advantage in the head-to-head, Sabalenka emerged the victor in their most recent meeting, at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati last year.
Iga Świątek’s Form Has Been Intensely Scrutinized Ahead of Her French Open Campaign
Iga Swiatek’s form came under intense scrutiny ahead of the French Open, as she failed to win a single clay-court tournament in the lead-up to the Grand Slam.
Notably, she failed to defend both her titles at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. In the Madrid semifinal, she was swatted aside by long-time rival Coco Gauff, managing to win a single game in each set. The result sent shockwaves through the tennis world, as clay is Świątek’s most successful surface.
After an early loss to American Danielle Collins in Rome, the player reached Paris before schedule, hitting the practice courts early. The 24-year-old’s gradual return to form at the French Open has been hailed by tennis experts, including renowned coach and former pro Brad Gilbert.