French Open 2025: 'Unreal, unbelievable' Iga Swiatek hails Elena Rybakina – ‘I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner’
Published 01/06/2025 at 17:30 GMT+1
Former world No. 2 Alex Corretja hailed Iga Swiatek’s comeback against Elena Rybakina as "unreal" and "unbelievable". Swiatek was down 6-1 2-0 against the former Wimbledon winner, but rallied to win 1-6 6-3 7-5 and qualify for her sixth French Open quarter-final in succession. The four-time champion will take on Elina Svitolina in the next round, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights: Swiatek somehow recovers to overcome Rybakina in classic contest
Video credit: TNT Sports
Alex Corretja hailed Iga Swiatek’s comeback against Elena Rybakina as "unreal" and "unbelievable".
Swiatek overcame a 6-1 2-0 deficit to beat Rybakina and qualify for her sixth Roland-Garros quarter-final in succession.
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina raced into a 5-0 lead in 20 minutes, but Swiatek ultimately came through 1-6 6-3 7-5 to claim her 25th successive French Open win.
Former world No. 2 Corretja told TNT Sports: "It was unreal, unbelievable what Iga did today.
"Because when you are playing someone like Rybakina, who is dictating so much and hitting the ball perfectly with her forehand, backhand and serves, you are down 6-1 2-0 and you start struggling, you don’t know what to do.
"But her attitude was always there. It’s such professionalism to just believe that you can turn it around.
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'Unreal, unbelievable what Iga did' - Reaction to Swiatek's wild comeback at Roland-Garros
Video credit: TNT Sports
"This is why she’s won here four times, this is why she doesn’t look for excuses, and that’s why she came back.
"She didn’t come back because she played better. She came back because she was a fighter."
Swiatek: ‘I felt like I was playing against Sinner’
Four-time French Open winner Swiatek admitted the first set against Rybakina was so difficult, she felt like she was up against men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
"Well, it was tough", Swiatek said in her on-court interview. "In the first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner.
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"She really pushed me. I needed to do something to get back into the game - with her playing like that I didn't have a lot of hope. At the end, I was able to play my game, and I am super happy."
On her next match, Swiatek said: "Elina Svitolina, as you can see today, she's a great fighter. She plays every point like it means life or death. We played a great match in Miami this year."
Stream the 2025 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
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