Iga Swiatek: The 21-year-old who could break Serena Williams' record winning streak

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN

Updated 1217 GMT (2017 HKT) May 31, 2022

Swiatek celebrates against Zheng at the French Open.

(CNN)Iga Swiatek could be about to smash Serena Williams' record winning streak.

Swiatek, who turned 21 on Tuesday, won her first grand slam title two years ago at Roland Garros. Now, with a winning streak of 32 matches and the longest unbeaten run on the women's tour since Williams bagged 34 victories in succession in 2013, she is the favorite to win this year's French Open.But the Polish star won't let the pressure phase her."[T]here's no point of thinking, 'Oh, this streak is getting long. When am I going to lose?' Or, I don't know, is it even possible to win so many matches?" she told the WTA Insider Podcast.«I just don't think about it. I honestly kind of believe that the sky's the limit and I can go even forward.Read More»That kind of attitude of just looking forward, not thinking what's already happened really helped me because I'm also saving energy by not doing that. I'm pretty proud of myself," she added. Though it isn't always plain sailing for Swiatek, whose winning streak was under threat at the French Open on Monday.She defeated Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round, but not before Zheng took a set off the world No. 1.Swiatek plays a backhand against Zheng.Zheng, 19, looked on track for a major upset when she claimed the opener in a tiebreak before Swiatek took control to win 6-7(5) 6-0 6-2 for her 32nd straight victory.«It wasn't easy to find solutions and to find other tactics and do something differently, because I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong,» she said. Swiatek started to regroup in an unorthodox way, choosing tosing Dua Lipa in her head instead of focusing on the