Former champion Ana Ivanovic weighs in on Swiatek’s French Open rivals
WTASunday, 26 May 2024 at 05:00
The former
French Open champion, Ana Ivanovic, has selected the top contenders who could
challenge the defending champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros. The Serbian
ex-tennis star has positioned Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina as the main
threats to the Polish player.
Swiatek is
the frontrunner to claim the title for the third consecutive time and the
fourth in her career, especially after her 12 consecutive wins on clay, which
earned her the WTA 1000 titles at the Madrid Open and the Rome Open, both with
victories over Sabalenka in the finals.
The biggest threats to Swiatek
Ana
Ivanovic closely follows the WTA Tour and has no doubt that Swiatek is the
favorite in the tournament that suits her best. However, the former player
believes there are two competitors who could challenge Swiatek's reign at
Roland Garros "I
think the biggest threat is Aryna Sabalenka – they (her and Swiatek) played an
amazing match in Madrid. It was a very tight one. And Elena Rybakina, even
though clay is probably not her favorite surface," Ivanovic told
Ubitennis.
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Regarding
the dark horses that could cause an upset, Ivanovic chose Danielle Collins as a
strong contender to advance deep into the later rounds: "Collins had an
amazing tournament, winning back-to-back in Miami and Charleston and also
playing well again in Rome. I think she is a dark horse for the French
Open."
"She
seems to play very freely and enjoy herself out there. She has been in very
good form this year, winning a lot of matches. She has a big chance to go far
into the second week of the French Open," the former world No. 1 added.
Collins won 22 of the last 25 matches she played
Ivanovic
also highlighted the 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva. The teenager reached
the third round in her debut and made it to the quarterfinals of the recent
Madrid Open, but fell to the eventual finalist Sabalenka: "I think now in
women’s tennis we see more familiar faces in the semifinals and finals. But I
would really like to see Mirra Andreeva go far," concluded Ivanovic.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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