Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has etched her name into tennis folklore with a staggering milestone following her latest quarterfinal run at the Madrid Open. The Polish sensation, despite a frustrating 2025 season marked by near-misses at every tournament, continues to rewrite record books. Swiatek has reached the final eight or better at all seven events she’s entered this year—including the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Indian Wells—yet fallen agonizingly short of lifting silverware.
Now, as she gears up to face American World No. 5 Madison Keys (who stunned her in Melbourne’s semifinals), Swiatek’s Madrid progress has unlocked a historic achievement, placing her alongside a former World No. 1 and five-time major winner.
Iga Swiatek matches Swiss legend's unthinkable streak
By advancing to the Madrid Open quarterfinals, Swiatek has now reached the last eight at 17 consecutive WTA clay-court tournaments—a feat last accomplished by Swiss icon Martina Hingis over two decades ago. Between 1997 and 2002, Hingis strung together a jaw-dropping 19 straight clay-court quarterfinals, a record Iga Swiatek could equal if she replicates this run at the Italian Open and French Open in the coming weeks.
The weight of consistency
Swiatek’s streak underscores her dominance on clay, a surface where her heavy topspin and relentless baseline aggression thrive. While titles have eluded her this year, her ability to consistently navigate deep into tournaments mirrors the resilience of legends like Martina Hingis, who balanced finesse and tactical brilliance during her prime.
2025: A season of near-misses
Despite her clay-court mastery, Swiatek’s quest for a 2025 title remains unfulfilled:
Australian Open: Semifinal loss to Keys.
Qatar Open: Quarterfinal exit.
Stuttgart Open: Crushed by Jelena Ostapenko in the quarters.
Each event followed a similar script: dominance early, heartbreak late. Yet, her relentless consistency keeps her in contention everywhere she plays.
Chasing history in Paris
With Roland Garros looming, Iga Swiatek’s clay prowess positions her as a favorite. Matching Martina Hingis’ 19-quarterfinal streak would require deep runs in Rome and Paris—a challenge she’s embraced throughout her career. The Pole has already claimed three French Open titles, and another would further cement her legacy as this generation’s clay sovereign.
The bigger picture
While titles define legacies, Swiatek’s streak highlights a different kind of greatness: sustained excellence. In an era of volatile form and early upsets, her ability to reliably reach the latter stages—win or lose—echoes the consistency of all-time greats.
As Iga Swiatek eyes Hingis’ record, the tennis world watches. Can she conquer Rome and Paris to tie the Swiss legend, or will the pressure crack her resolve? One thing’s certain: On clay, Swiatek remains royalty—and her reign is far from over.