FRENCH OPEN: No. 1 Swiatek Enters on 28-Match Winning Streak

The 28-match series of wins aggregated by the new No. 1 in the WTA rankings has been outperformed by just three ladies beginning around 2000 — Venus Williams (35 of every 2000), Serena Williams (34 out of 2013) and Justine Henin (32 out of 2008), all previous No. 1s, all proprietors of different Grand Slam titles.

“Indeed, I realize that the tension will come, without a doubt, and I realize that on mud, perhaps the media will call me the #1,” said 2020 French Open boss Swiatek, whose first-round match against 121st-positioned Lesia Tsurenko is booked for Monday.

“Yet, truly, I don’t have the foggiest idea what’s in store, since it’s the initial time I’m in a position like that and I’m world No. 1,” Swiatek said. “Without a doubt, what I know is that I’m going have some good times playing on dirt. … I just consistently have more inspiration before Roland Garros, so I will utilize that, without a doubt.”

The 20-year-old from Poland has won her beyond five competitions and 42 of her beyond 43 sets.

“She’s certainly fixing a high point of reference now,” 2019 U.S. Open hero Bianca Andreescu said. “For my purposes, at any rate, it’s actual propelling.”

Everybody in tennis, it appears, is paying heed.

“She’s new. She’s normal. She’s young,” 13-time French Open victor Rafael Nadal said. “The way that she’s playing this year looks relentless.”

Most likely not by and large relentless, obviously. So Swiatek realizes this run won’t endure forever.

Assuming it go on for seven more matches across barely short of two additional weeks, however, the main Polish tennis player to be positioned No. 1 and to come out on top for a Grand Slam singles championship will claim a second.

“I’m mindful that this streak is something that might be reaching a conclusion soon, so I would rather not be like, you know, devastated while it will work out,” Swiatek said. “I believe monitoring that is really solid.”

Last year’s hero, Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, wasn’t certain about whether she would have the option to attempt to shield her title due to a harmed right elbow that has sidelined her since February.

“I don’t actually anticipate a lot,” said Krejcikova, who is No. 2 in the rankings subsequent to entering the 2021 French Open at No. 33. “At the present time, I feel amazing. I need to hope for the best that I feel far better. Likewise, I think, intellectually I’m truly re-energized.”
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The men’s section is comparably uneven as anyone might think possible: The top portion of the draw contains the reigning champ and negative. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic; 13-time champion Rafael Nadal; the 19-year-old Spaniard having the best time of any man, Carlos Alcaraz; and negative. 3 Alexander Zverev.

“Really stacked,” was Zverev’s take. “I truly do feel that presumably the Roland Garros champion will be in the top half.”

Alcaraz is the main individual from that group of four who will play Sunday; the other three are booked for Monday matches.

One recipient of the way everything worked out: No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the second place a year prior and in the draw’s base around 50% of this time.