Evert and Swiatek, the ‘Queens of Clay’ on what makes Roland-Garros special
WHEN it comes to excelling on clay, there are perhaps only a handful of players out there who can truly claim to have dominated tournaments played on that difficult surface.
Chris Evert and Iga Swiatek are two names that instantly come to mind, these two accomplished Rolex Testimonees who – generations apart – have both soared to the peak of the women’s game and become the undisputed Queens of Clay.
Collectively, they have 11 Roland-Garros singles trophies, dozens of Women’s Tennis Association titles and all sorts of record-breaking runs – all achieved on clay courts around the world.
Evert is now 70 and long retired, but she continues to be active and influential on the women’s tennis scene.
The American was ranked World No 1 for 260 weeks and finished as the year-end No 1 seven times. In all, Evert won 157 singles titles, among them 18 Majors – seven of which were at Roland-Garros.
This year’s Roland-Garros is a significant one for Evert, for it marks 50 years since she and her fellow Rolex Testimonee Bjorn Borg successfully defended their maiden Grand Slam singles titles in Paris in 1975.
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As for Swiatek, the 23-year-old from Poland is busy rewriting the history books with each passing season. She’s spent a total of 125 weeks as the world’s No 1 player, and is the proud owner of 22 singles titles, including five Majors – four at Roland-Garros, and one US Open crown.
Recently, both Evert and Swiatek spent time together to discuss their respective journeys to achievement, while exchanging some precious words of wisdom with each other.
Still a princess, not a queen
The affable Swiatek kicked off the conversation in the most apt way with the admission: “I’m still a princess; there’s only one queen”.
That short statement was both a respectful nod to the immense achievements and contributions to tennis by Evert, as well as a reflection of the modest nature of one of the sport’s brightest young stars, one who is displaying all the right qualities and attributes that will pave the way for her to follow in the American’s footsteps on the red clay.
Evert, meanwhile, said she’s watched Swiatek in action over the years and she’s noticed many similarities between the two of them in the intangibles of the game.
Both players are known to have an extremely strong baseline game, with powerful forehands and precise footwork. This was a style of play that Evert pioneered back in the 1970s, with Swiatek now taking on the mantle decades later.
“The mental toughness, the focus and the hunger which, to me honestly, is more than 50 per cent of tennis,” said Evert. “You’re not satisfied with winning one or two Grand Slams, whereas other people might be. It’s like ‘OK, when’s the next one?’ You want to play with longevity and to win a lot of majors.”
During the conversation, Swiatek admitted she was surprised to learn that Evert did not feel comfortable coming to the net or becoming an all-court player until her mid- to late-20s.
“Is that really the case?”, said the Pole. “I’m very happy that you brought in ground strokes, and I prefer this game style, so it’s a good choice. It makes tennis much more interesting. I love building rallies and embracing the tactical element of clay; you have to think everything through and plan each point wisely.”
Special moments on clay
At this point, the attention turns to Roland-Garros, a beloved tournament where Swiss watchmaker Rolex completed its calendar Grand Slam of partnerships in 2019 – more than 40 years after it became the Official Timekeeper of Wimbledon in 1978.
During this golden era of tennis, Evert won a record seven of her 18 Grand Slam singles titles on the clay courts of Paris, as well as becoming a doubles champion on two occasions.
Last year, Swiatek celebrated her fourth Roland-Garros singles title. And it was both fitting and appropriate that it was Evert who had the honour of presenting her with the prized Suzanne-Lenglen trophy – on the very same court where the American first experienced Grand Slam glory in 1974.
Both players took some time to reflect on that very special moment they shared on a packed and emotional Court Philippe-Chatrier last June, and what it meant for them.
Said Evert: “I remember thinking I’ve won Roland-Garros seven times, Iga’s now won it four times at a very young age, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she can pass me and win it more than seven times. I think she is the perfect clay-court player and has what it takes. I know she loves to play on clay. I was very excited to present this trophy to her rather than anyone else because I felt like I had always related to her quietly, her style of game, her mentality and her love of clay.”
Swiatek was surprised to hear and receive such words of praise from a legend of the sport whom she looks up to so dearly.
“I will always remember hearing you say that I can surpass your record. I really got this warm feeling from you. It was just so nice to hear, and it hit me harder than usual. You seem so mature, and you know that there are other things outside of tennis that are much more important,” said Swiatek.
While Swiatek eventually won Roland-Garros last year to round off her most dominant clay court season to date, there was a time in the tournament when she was staring at the exit as she found herself match point down in the second round.
“I really thought I was out of the tournament. In the third set, I was 2–5 down and managed to save a match point and mentally I had to be at my top level to even believe I could come back. I might have won the match, but later when I was in the gym I cried for 15 minutes. I think it was the longest match I’ve ever played on clay and it kind of broke my heart. This was the most meaningful title of my career because of how close I came to losing,” she recalled.
Evert, however, saw things differently and asked her: “Don’t you think that after a match like that you’re much better off for the rest of the tournament?
Swiatek responded in the affirmative, though she recognised that she had set her expectations too high at a tournament where she had typically excelled in.
“It wasn’t logical but I remember I just wanted to work on my game because I felt like I could do much better. To be honest I felt like life had given me a second chance, so I had to take it,” she said.
Evert added: “You’re tough on yourself, Iga. Look, do you know what I learnt after a long career; you just can’t be 100 per cent mentally, physically and emotionally for every single match that you play. Recognising you’re a little off and your game’s not there is OK, it’s all experience. I’ve seen you come back when you’re not playing well and win matches, whereas other players might just be disappointed, they might mentally give up. That experience really has helped you to get through matches that maybe you shouldn’t have won. And it’s because you’re a champion.”
And it is precisely this champion’s mentality and fighting spirit that have defined these two world-class athletes, and will continue to do so for years to come.
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