Iga Swiatek`s clay court dominance is undeniable, with an impressive 89 wins out of 100 matches played on this surface. Among active players, she stands out with five Grand Slam titles, four of which were claimed at Roland Garros, and boasts the highest win rate on clay.
The highly anticipated clay season for the Polish star is set to commence in Stuttgart at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Clay courts perfectly complement her playing style, enhancing her strengths and minimizing any potential weaknesses. Her fluid movement, precise footwork, and powerful top-spin forehand, which achieves its highest bounce on clay, are all amplified on this surface.
“Despite my clay court record, it`s still an adjustment,” Swiatek, the No. 2 seed, mentioned at Stuttgart Media Day. “Most of the year we compete on hard courts, so transitioning to clay requires time to adapt.”
“However, I believe I’m in an ideal position. With dedicated practice and focus, I`m confident I can quickly start performing at my best.”
The WTA 500 Stuttgart event marks the beginning of a series of significant European clay court tournaments, including WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, culminating in the prestigious Roland Garros Grand Slam. Since 2020, Swiatek has consistently won an average of two clay court titles per year. Impressively, she has secured 10 titles out of 20 played in this period, highlighting her dominance.
Breaking Down the Top Seeds in Stuttgart
Here’s a summary of insights and key statistics from the top six players in the Stuttgart main draw:
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka:
Last year, Sabalenka reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome, only to be defeated by Swiatek in both instances. When questioned about her chances of winning a clay title this year, following her Miami victory, Sabalenka responded with, “Hah! Good question!”
She added, “I wish I could confidently say, ‘Yes, I’m going to win.’ But I can assure you I’ll bring my utmost enthusiasm and determination.”
Key stats: Sabalenka, a clay court enthusiast, achieved a 15-4 record during last year`s clay season. She has an impressive streak of three consecutive finals in Stuttgart from 2021 to 2023, yet she is still in pursuit of her first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek:
Swiatek has had a remarkable start to 2025, beginning with four consecutive wins at the United Cup in Australia. Her only loss came in the United Cup final against Gauff.
In her six tournament appearances this year, she has reached one final, three semifinals, and two quarterfinals, currently holding the fourth position in the Race to the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Key stats: Swiatek triumphed in Stuttgart in both 2022 and 2023, defeating Sabalenka in both finals. Her perfect Stuttgart record of 10 wins was broken by Elena Rybakina in last year`s semifinals.
Reflecting on her past successes, Swiatek said, “I’m definitely proud of my past achievements here. It’s wonderful to return and relive those memories, but it doesn’t dictate future outcomes. My focus is firmly on what’s ahead.”
No. 3 Jessica Pegula:
Fresh off her first clay title win in Charleston, Pegula enters the clay season with boosted confidence.
A rib injury prevented her participation in last year`s clay tournaments, but she has previously shown promise, particularly in Madrid, where the high altitude speeds up play. Pegula was a finalist in Madrid in 2022 and reached the quarterfinals in 2023.
“Last year, I had to miss this clay swing due to injury,” Pegula stated in Stuttgart. “This year, I feel much fresher and more prepared to compete and travel.”
“I feel great and ready, so I intend to make the most of it. Fortunately, it’s resulting in many matches, which is a positive outcome of performing well.”
Key stats: Pegula leads the WTA this year in match wins with 25 victories, including two titles in Austin and Charleston. She is currently ahead of Sabalenka by two wins.
No. 4 Coco Gauff:
Gauff’s strong defensive game makes her a formidable opponent on any clay court. Similar to Sabalenka, her progress in Rome and Paris last year was halted by Swiatek in the semifinals.
Key stats: Gauff`s clay record last season was 12-4. Her most successful clay season was in 2021, achieving a 16-4 record and reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros.
No. 5 Jasmine Paolini:
After several Round of 16 finishes at the WTA 1000 events earlier this year, Paolini broke through in Miami, becoming the first Italian woman to reach the tournament`s semifinals. She aims to carry this momentum into her clay court season debut in 2025.
Key stats: Paolini achieved a 12-5 record on clay last year, with half of these wins at Roland Garros, where she reached her first Grand Slam final. Over the past 15 years, three Italian women have reached the Roland Garros finals: Francesca Schiavone (2010 champion and 2011 runner-up), Sara Errani (2012 runner-up), and Paolini.
No. 6 Mirra Andreeva:
This marks Andreeva’s first appearance in Stuttgart, though Madrid is where she first gained attention, reaching the fourth round at just 15 years old. More recently, she reached the 2024 Roland Garros semifinals before losing to Paolini.
Andreeva faces a unique challenge in the first round as she is set to play against her older sister, Erika, who entered the draw as a lucky loser along with Errani and Ella Seidel. In their previous WTA match, Erika defeated Mirra in straight sets at the 2024 Wuhan tournament.
“We will approach it professionally, as we must,” Andreeva commented in Stuttgart, prior to knowing the potential draw against Erika. “We will compete as in any other match. If it happens, we`ll face each other, and it will likely be a great and entertaining match.”
Key stats: The 17-year-old Andreeva holds a strong .733 win percentage on clay. She aims to build on her hard court success from earlier this year, where she secured back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, becoming the youngest player to break into the Top 10 since 2007.
….And one more to watch
Laura Siegemund:
Siegemund has recently excelled as a doubles player, achieving a No. 4 ranking last year. However, she has also been a Top 30 singles player, with past success in Stuttgart being a significant part of her singles journey.
Stuttgart has been her most successful singles tournament, winning the title in 2017 and reaching the final in 2016. She has a 14-6 main draw record at this event. Her best Grand Slam singles result also came on clay – reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2020.
Siegemund is set to face fellow wild card Jule Niemeier in the first round on Tuesday. All five German players in the tournament are placed in the same quarter of the draw.
Rupert Caldwell