Swiatek or Sabalenka? Fans weigh in

Swiatek has won eight of the pair’s 12 previous meetings, but Sabalenka has been the dominant world No.1 this year, entering her 41st week atop the WTA rankings this week and arriving at Roland-Garros as the top seed for the first time in her career. 

Oddsmakers have it as a toss-up. Pundits aren’t convinced either way. But what about the fans? They’re the ones that really bleed the sport, after all. 

With that in mind, we headed into the throngs to check the temperature of the fans who were roaming the grounds after Wednesday’s women’s quarter-finals. 

Ludivine, a woman from Poitiers, France, believes that four-time champion Swiatek is still the woman to beat in Paris. What has convinced her that Iga can do it? 

“Because she was about to lose to Rybakina, but she succeeded in finding a way back. Now she’s in a better moment, she’s on the rise again,” said Ludivine, who was walking outside Court Philippe-Chatrier after Lois Boisson’s colossal upset of Mirra Andreeva on Day 11.

It’s a good pick. Swiatek is 40-2 lifetime at Roland-Garros and hasn’t lost at this tournament since 2021. But not everybody thinks Iga’s aura will be enough to get her through. 

Over at the information desk near Court 14 we found a young woman who was pretty confident that this is Sabalenka’s match to win. 

Maude, a true Parisian, gives the 28-year-old the nod.

“Because she’s the biggest, and she has a better ranking, she’s the No.1,” she said. 

Back by Chatrier, where the conversation is always flowing, a trio of young women from Houston, Texas, caught our attention. 

We put the question to them, hoping to settle it once and for all: Swiatek or Sabalenka, and why? 

“Field that one,” said one friend, dressed to the nines and toting a bag full of Roland-Garros swag, pointing to a young woman with a big smile on her face. 

“No you field it – she’s a good tennis player,” she replied, as she pointed back to her friend. 

Finally the friend took charge and spoke for the group. 

“I really can’t call that one… I don’t… I can’t! I normally have someone I’m rooting for but that one is a toss-up.” 

Sounds about right, actually. 

Next we turned to a pair of ball kids, who were chatting on their way to grab dinner. 

“I think… it’s not easy… it’s a close one, but I’m more Sabalenka,” said Auguste, a tallish lad with curly hair and blue eyes. “I’m more for her because I like her playing style more than Swiatek.”

His friend Gaspard was finally ready to give his take. 

“I like Swiatek,” he concluded, adding: “The experience. She knows the tournament better.”

Still at a stalemate…

Back in the Place des Mousquetaires, fans still delirious from watching home favourite Boisson stun Andreeva were in a buoyant mood. We found Mel, who comes from near Stratford-on-Avon in the UK and was celebrating her birthday at Roland-Garros, Stella Artois in hand. 

“I actually think Sabalenka will win, because she’s been pretty faultless,” she said. “She’s super relaxed and she’s just full of confidence. 

“And Swiatek has had a few little blips, some ups and downs. My money’s on Sabalenka to win the whole thing.”

Good analysis. Who needs talking heads when we have these incredible fans? 

But for every Sabalenka pick there seems to be another for Swiatek. 

I stumbled upon a trio of English speaking fans on the west side of the grounds by Court 10. They seemed friendly enough so I sauntered up and popped the question. 

A protracted pause on the steps just outside Court Suzanne-Lenglen came next. Tough question, indeed.

“I think Iga really wants it,” said the woman from North Carolina, finally breaking her silence. “That’s my pick and that’s my reasoning.” 

The beauty of being a fan is that you don’t have to necessarily be logical, or bury yourself in statistical analysis. Fans are free to see the sport through their own rose-tinted spectacles, like Jane, an American who was the tennis die-hard in a quartet that was 75 percent there for the Parisian flair. 

“I don’t know who either one is,” said one of Jane’s friends, somewhat defiantly, with a laugh, beer in hand. Okay then. 

“Aryna will win,” Jane interrupted, confidently. “Because I want her to.” 

Good enough for us.