On Saturday afternoon, Iga Swiatek will attempt to do what only two women have done in almost 90 years: win three French Open titles in a row.
Since the start of the Open Era in 1968, it’s just Monica Seles and Justine Henin who have pulled off the feat.
Why is it so difficult? Henin, whose trio came in 2005, 2006, and 2007, has an idea.
“Not that many players can play on clay, or certainly be really dominant on the surface,” she tells The Athletic.
“They don’t have that something special to play on clay. Iga, compared to other players — she has something very different to play on clay, and that was the same for me.”
Henin picked up four French Open titles in total. The unknowns of tennis are myriad, but Henin’s record at Roland Garros suggests she was consummately equipped to win more titles, had she decided not to retire on the eve of the 2008 tournament: 25-years-old, world No. 1 and three-time reigning champion. A physically and mentally exhausted Henin “chose to step back to go more to my personal life,” and though she did return to play one more Roland Garros, in 2010, she didn’t compete at the tournament she’d dominated for what could have been her peak years.
Justine Henin celebrates after winning her final French Open title in 2007….
