Reigning Roland Garros queen Iga Swiatek kicked off her 2025 French Open campaign with a statement win, defeating Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 6-3 in a first-round clash that cemented her place among tennis immortality. The 23-year-old Pole, battling a patchy season marked by uncharacteristic inconsistency, rallied from a second-set deficit to secure her 22nd consecutive victory at the Parisian major.
But beyond advancing to Round 2, Swiatek achieved a milestone that ties her to legends Billie Jean King and Serena Williams—a feat even she might not have predicted amid her recent struggles.
Iga Swiatek enters the pantheon of tennis royalty
Swiatek’s triumph over Rebecca Sramkova wasn’t just another routine win—it marked her 24th victory in 25 Grand Slam opening-round matches, a staggering 96% success rate. Her lone first-round loss? A 2019 Wimbledon defeat to veteran Alizé Cornet. This consistency now places her alongside an elite cadre of icons:
Billie Jean King: Won 29 consecutive Grand Slam openers post-Open Era.
Serena Williams: Held a flawless 46-0 first-round record until a 2012 upset.
Chris Evert & Evonne Goolagong: Never lost a first-round match in their careers.
Monica Seles: Racked up 39 straight opening-round wins.
For Iga Swiatek, the numbers tell a story of relentless dominance. Since her 2020 French Open breakthrough, she’s turned Roland Garros into her fortress, capturing three consecutive titles (2022-2024) and losing just four sets during that span. Yet, this first-round milestone transcends clay—it’s a testament to her ability to deliver under pressure, regardless of form or surface.
The road to redemption
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been uncharacteristically turbulent. Before Paris, she’d failed to win a title since her 2024 French Open triumph, slipping to No. 5 in the rankings after early exits in Madrid and Rome. Critics questioned her mental resilience, especially after a shocking Italian Open loss to Danielle Collins.
But at Roland Garros, Swiatek thrives on proving doubters wrong. Against Rebecca Sramkova, she weathered a mid-match surge, recalibrating her lethal topspin forehands and razor-sharp drop shots to dismantle her opponent’s defense.
“It’s about trusting my game, even when things aren’t perfect,” Swiatek noted post-match, alluding to her tactical adjustments.
Legacy in motion
Iga Swiatek’s first-round record isn’t just a statistical quirk—it’s a reflection of her champion’s mentality. Like King and Williams, she’s mastered the art of avoiding early upsets, a skill that separates great players from legends. King, a 12-time major winner, leveraged her consistency to pioneer equality in tennis. Williams, with 23 Slams, turned first-round matches into mere formalities. Swiatek, though still early in her career, is scripting a similar narrative.
As she eyes a fourth straight French Open title, the Pole’s path remains daunting. Potential clashes with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff loom, but Swiatek’s first-round milestone serves as a reminder: Bet against her at Roland Garros at your peril.
With the Rebecca Sramkova hurdle cleared, Iga Swiatek shifts focus to Round 2, where she’ll face China’s Wang Xinyu. A win would inch her closer to Evert’s record of seven French Open titles—and further solidify her status as this generation’s clay-court sovereign. For now, tennis history has a new chapter, and its author wears a headband and a steely gaze.