Iga Świątek is set to compete against Sara Bejlek in the second round of Roland Garros. Świątek, a four-time champion at this event, is scheduled to face the Czech player.
Bejlek’s Journey to Roland Garros
Sara Bejlek’s clay court season has been difficult. She only won one of five matches before the Paris tournament. However, she began the Grand Slam with a victory over Sloane Stephens, 6-3, 6-2.
Bejlek’s early career was marked by an incident during the US Open in 2022. Świątek won that tournament, while Bejlek qualified for the main draw at 16. After winning the final qualifying match, Bejlek celebrated with her father, Jaroslav. He hugged her, patted her on the bottom several times, and kissed her on the lips.
American media criticised the celebration. Bejlek said it was a spontaneous reaction from the team and that they were happy. She added that some might have found it inappropriate and that the team had discussed it and it would not happen again.
She stated that her father is her father and always will be, and she has known her coach since she was eight. She also noted that such an incident might not have garnered attention in the Czech Republic, but because it occurred in the United States, it became a talking point.
Bejlek’s Resurgence
The incident took a mental toll on Bejlek. However, she recovered and progressed through important tournaments. In 2025, she won her first title at Roland Garros as a qualifier. She defeated Marta Kostiuk 6-3, 6-1. Fans praised her performance, noting her unexpected win and unique playing style.
The 20-year-old is from Znojmo. Bejlek’s playing style has been compared to that of Maja Chwalińska, as she is also left-handed and relies on combinations, counter-attacks, and tennis intelligence.
She does so effectively, even though she is only 163 centimetres tall.