Swiatek still favorite to win French Open despite Madrid loss

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek remains favorite to win the 2025 French Open despite being thrashed by No.4 seed Coco Gauff at the Madrid Open in Spain on Thursday.

Swiatek’s 6-1, 6-1 loss in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 event was her worst defeat in six years as a professional, with Gauff taking just 64 minutes to race past the defending champion.

However, top tennis bookmakers still have the world No.2 as the one to beat at the year’s next major, which takes place later this month in Paris.

Swiatek was also a firm favorite on tennis betting apps for Thursday’s match against Gauff, paying -227.27 to return to the final in Madrid for the third straight year.

The 23-year-old was far from her best, however, and bemoaned her poor movement after the match.

“I couldn’t really get my level up,” Swiatek said.

“Coco played good but I think it’s on me that I didn’t really move well.

“I feel like I haven’t been moving well and the tennis also was like on and off, you know, for most of the tournament.

“I wasn’t ready to play back the shots with heaviness, and with that kind of game, it was pretty bad.

“I wasn’t really sure what I have in my toolbox, like I didn’t even have a plan B because nothing was working today.”

Gauff, meanwhile, is through to her first Madrid Open final, where she will face the winner of Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina on Saturday.

She also extends her winning streak against Swiatek to three in a row after losing 11 of the pair’s first 12 meetings.

“I made her uncomfortable, and honestly just today was just a good day for me,” Gauff said.

“It wasn’t her best day, obviously.

“But I played her in United Cup, which I felt like she was playing great tennis, and to me she was moving well.

“Every time I play her I feel like she’s one of the best movers on tour.

“But again she’s probably reflecting on her performance today, and maybe this week, and it maybe wasn’t to her standards, but overall I still think that she’s a great mover.”

SPORTS NEWS