It’s the final WTA 1000 occasion earlier than Roland-Garros, which suggests one ultimate probability to find out who’s in prime place to contend for the title on the Parisian clay. This yr, nonetheless, the clay season feels fully totally different on the ladies’s aspect.
Final yr, it was Iga Swiatek coming into because the de facto favourite in Paris, having gained three consecutive titles on her beloved terre battue from 2022 to 2024.
Despite the fact that Swiatek was within the midst of a tough clay swing—with losses to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart, Coco Gauff in Madrid and Danielle Collins in Rome—it was nonetheless laborious to examine her being stopped in Paris.
That modified within the semifinals on Court docket Philippe-Chatrier, when Aryna Sabalenka handed her a bagel within the third set. Since then, the clay has felt extra like an open alternative for the WTA’s elite.
As consideration turns to Rome, the significance of this match for Swiatek is evident. She parted methods with Wim Fissette after Miami and started the clay season with renewed power after hiring Rafael Nadal’s former coach, Francisco Roig.
A productive coaching block at Nadal’s Academy in Mallorca—the place Nadal himself joined her on court docket—left Swiatek, and lots of observers, feeling optimistic about her possibilities on clay as soon as once more.
Two weeks later, with a 2-2 report by Stuttgart and Madrid, Rome now stands as her ultimate litmus take a look at forward of Roland-Garros.
The fourth seed sits within the backside half of the draw and can face both Daria Kasatkina or Caty McNally in her opening match.
Swiatek’s projected path (if seeds maintain):
R1 – Bye
R2 – Kasatkina or McNally
R3 – [28] Navarro or Cocciaretto
R16 – [15] Osaka or [19] Shnaider
QF – [5] Pegula or [11] Muchova
SF – [2] Rybakina or [23] Kostyuk, [7] Svitolina
F – [1] Sabalenka or [3] Gauff
In the meantime, Aryna Sabalenka will lengthen her reign at No. 1 to 82 consecutive weeks no matter what occurs in Rome—however she’ll be aiming to seize her first title on the occasion.
The 2024 runner-up arrives with a 26-2 report on the season, together with titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.
Sabalenka’s projected path (if seeds maintain):
R1 – Bye
R2 – Krejcikova or Jacquemot
R3 – [26] Cirstea
R16 – [13] Noskova or [18] Tauson
QF – [6] Anisimova or [12] Bencic
SF – [3] Gauff or [8] Andreeva
F – [2] Rybakina, [4] Swiatek or [5] Pegula
Predominant draw motion kicks off Tuesday in Rome.
