Martina Navratilova gives verdict on Iga Swiatek's French Open chances

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• WTA Tennis

Martina Navratilova thinks Iga Swiatek will undoubtedly be the No 1 French Open favorite if she arrives to Roland Garros fully healthy. Swiatek, the defending French Open champion, suffered a thigh injury in Rome last Wednesday.

After suffering a thigh injury, Swiatek played for four more games before retiring her Rome quarterfinal match against Elena Rybakina. Last year, Swiatek was considered the absolute favorite for the French Open and she did cruise past to her second French Open win.

But Swiatek has gotten some strong competition this year in the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

Navratilova on Swiatek's French Open chances

“It all hinges on her health. From what I’m hearing, the [thigh] injury is not that bad.

If she’s 100 percent healthy, then she’s the odds-on favorite. It’s Iga versus the field. If she’s not, then it’s wide open. And Sabalenka and Rybakina, they would be the favorites to win. No doubt about it, the way they’ve played on the clay.

All those players should be pretty confident coming in, with Swiatek having the most if her body is 100 percent. I mean, we could have a surprising winner, but chances are it will be one of the three. I definitely want to see her in full flight.

I want to see her supplanted only if people play better than her, not because she was injured. Last year, Iga almost forgot how to lose. She may not quite be at that stage yet, but she still should be super confident," Navratilova told the WTA website.

Last year, Swiatek came to the French Open undefeated on clay as the Pole won Stuttgart and Rome leading up to the second Grand Slam of the season. This year, Swiatek defended her Stuttgart title - ended as runner-up in Madrid - retired injured in the Rome quarterfinal. It remains to be seen if Swiatek can conclude her clay season with a third French Open win.