I needed a win like this," Swiatek admits after her stunning comeback against Rybakina

For the sixth year in a row, Iga Swiatek will compete in the quarterfinals of Roland-Garros.

The Polish player, who recently dropped to No. 5 in the world rankings, is now just three wins away from a fifth title at Porte d’Auteuil. On Sunday, in the round of 16, Swiatek seemed close to elimination, trailing 6-1, 2-0 against Elena Rybakina.

But she found the resources to turn the match around, winning 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. A courageous victory she reflected on in her post-match press conference:

"I wasn’t very optimistic when I was a break down in the second set. But I told myself I would fight for every ball until the last point and give everything to try and change the momentum. She dropped her intensity a bit in her movement, and that gave me more time to set up my game.

Everything became clearer, and I understood better what I needed to do. I could have lost, but I wasn’t going to allow myself to leave anything on the court. I needed a win like this. It means a lot to me to feel this way again, to come back against one of the best players in the world.

It’s not easy to keep everything under control—sometimes you have to endure and find solutions. This match confirms that I’m in a good rhythm and that I can handle the pressure in tough moments.

No matter the score, I’ve learned that I have to keep playing my tennis without fear of what might happen. Overcoming a challenge like this is great for my morale and gives me a lot of confidence.