"The toughest challenge" - Rafael Nadal-levels of dominance attributed to Iga Swiatek by Jasmine Paolini after French Open final loss

Jasmine Paolini said that playing Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros is the most difficult challenge in tennis right now. The Italian's words came after her 2024 French Open final loss to the Pole. They were reminiscent of praise that Swiatek's idol Rafael Nadal received for much of his illustrious career due to his record 14 French Open titles and his staggering 112-4 win-loss record at Roland Garros.

Swiatek's maiden Grand Slam title came at the 2020 French Open. However, few would have predicted at the time that the Pole would establish herself as the dominant player at the Claycourt Major in the years ahead. Swiatek added more French Open titles to her collection in 2022 and 2023.

The Pole's latest Roland Garros triumph marks a hat-trick of titles at the Grand Slam, which is widely regarded as the most physically and mentally taxing of all the Majors. Only Monica Seles (1990, 1991, 1992) and Justine Henin (2005, 2006, 2007) have previously completed a 'three-peat' at the Claycourt Major's women's singles category.

Paolini got off to a confident start against the Pole as she got an early break. However, it didn't take long for Swiatek to assert her superiority over the Italian. The World No. 1 won 11 out of 12 games after being broken, wrapping up the contest 6-2, 6-1 in just 68 minutes.

During her speech, Paolini heartily congratulated Swiatek and claimed that no challenge in modern tennis is greater than defeating the Pole at the French Open. The Italian also extended her congratulations to Swiatek's team, praising the work they have put in behind the scenes to ensure the Pole's World No. 1 status and her five Grand Slam triumphs so far.

"I think, to play you here, is the toughest challenge in this sport. Congrats also to your team. You're doing an amazing job. I mean, World No. 1, many Slams, I don't know. Just congratulations," Paolini said.

In late March this year, German Yannick Hanfmann looked back on his straight-sets defeat to Nadal in the first round of the 2019 French Open during an interview with CLAY - Historias de Tenis. The German said that overcoming the Spaniard on Court Philippe-Chatrier used to be the most daunting task in all of tennis.

"I think to play Rafa on that court is probably the toughest job in tennis. Or was, I don’t know. I felt weird when I saw I got Rafa in the first round. Because I played really well in qualifying and then the draw put such a difficult challenge," Hanfmann said.

Iga Swiatek surpasses Serena Williams and Monica Seles' French Open title hauls, stands two behind Steffi Graf's

Iga Swiatek celebrates her 2024 French Open title triumph

Swiatek's latest Slam success on Court Philippe-Chatrier saw her leapfrog Serena Williams, Monica Seles, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's respective French Open title hauls.

Williams, Seles, and Sanchez Vicario had each won three French Open titles. Williams won the 2002, 2013 and 2015 editions of the Claycourt Major, while Sanchez Vicario clinched it in 1989, 1994, and 1998.

The Pole sits two behind Steffi Graf's six French Open titles. The German first tasted glory at Roland Garros in 1987 and repeated the feat in 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1999.

Chris Evert holds the women's singles record for most French Open titles, having won the Claycourt Major on seven occasions (1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, and 1986). In May this year, Evert had backed Swiatek to shatter her Roland Garros record, expressing her belief that the Pole had everything needed to do it.