When Iga Swiatek defeated Coco Gauff in quick fashion to secure her second French Open title, it didn't come as much of a surprise to tennis fans.
What may be more of a surprise, however, is that in winning that title, Swiatek became the first player since Serena Williams in 2013 to win Roland Garros after opening the tournament as a +100 or better favorite.
Swiatek entered the tournament at -115 before having her odds shorten throughout the two-week event, and the last player to enter the event and win it with shorter odds was Williams.
Willliams entered the 2013 French Open at -133 before going on a title run, per sportsoddshistory.com.
Prior to Williams, Steffi Graf won the French Open in 1995 after opening at -125.
When Swiatek won her first Roland Garros title in 2020, she entered the event at +5000.
| Notable French Open Champions | Year | Opening Title Price | Championship Match Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 | -115 | -650 |
| Iga Swiatek | 2020 | +5000 | -185 |
| Ashleigh Barty | 2019 | +1800 | -170 |
| Serena Williams | 2015 | +240 | -320 |
| Serena Williams | 2013 | -133 | -550 |
| Justine Henin | 2007 | +150 | -556 |
| Steffi Graf | 1995 | -125 | -200 |
As of February 1 of this year, Swiatek was listed at +500 to win the French Open, but a dominant run of form that included five titles prior to the event saw her odds decline in the months leading up to Roland Garros.
Swiatek is the favorite to win the next Slam on the calendar, Wimbledon, as she's currently listed at +200.
Perhaps Swiatek is also chasing Martina Navratilova's 72-match winning streak, a WTA record, as the Pole currently sits at 35 wins.
There's a long way to go on that one.
