Iga Swiatek, the world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion, is reportedly contemplating a significant break from tennis after the 2025 French Open (May 25–June 8), potentially skipping Wimbledon (June 30–July 13) if her results in Rome and Paris disappoint. According to Polish outlet, Swiatek’s team has decided she will compete in the Italian Open (May 7–18) and Roland Garros, but a failure to secure a fourth consecutive French Open title could lead to her bypassing the grass-court season to rest and prepare for the US Open (August 25–September 7). This follows a challenging 2025 clay season, highlighted by a shocking 6-1, 6-1 loss to Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open semi-finals, her worst clay defeat since 2019. Posts on X reflect speculation, with @Strzewa91 noting Swiatek’s possible break and @DExpress_Sport reporting the Wimbledon skip as a “drastic plan.”
Swiatek’s struggles on grass, where her best Wimbledon result is a 2023 quarter-final, contrast with her clay dominance, where she boasts a 35-2 record at Roland Garros. Her 2024 Wimbledon third-round exit to Yulia Putintseva, coupled with inadequate rest post-Roland Garros, left her “tank empty,” a mistake she vowed not to repeat. The demanding clay schedule—19 matches from April to June 2024, winning Madrid, Rome, and Paris—has taken a toll, and her recent Madrid loss, where she appeared exhausted and emotional, underscores the need for recovery.
This decision mirrors broader 2025 clay-season narratives. Carlos Alcaraz, also prioritizing Roland Garros, may skip Rome due to injury, while Jannik Sinner returns in Rome post-doping ban, and Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur eye deep runs. Gauff’s Madrid triumph over Swiatek signals her clay prowess, intensifying competition. Swiatek’s potential break aims to preserve her longevity, inspired by Rafael Nadal’s versatility, as she seeks to emulate his all-surface success. Skipping Wimbledon, where she’s yet to shine, could recharge her for the hard-court season, but it risks her ranking and momentum in a fiercely competitive field.
