Iga Swiatek celebrates 23rd Birthday with another win at Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek's career record as a 23-year-old is 1-0. The World No. 1 and two-time defending Roland Garros champion celebrated her birthday Friday in Paris with a 6-4, 6-2 win over unseeded Czech Marie Bouzkova to safely seal a berth in the Round of 16 for the sixth year in a row.

After saving a match point to win what many pundits called the match of the tournament against Naomi Osaka in the second round, Swiatek found it much easier to control the outcome of points against World No.42 Bouzkova -- who had beaten No.29 seed Veronika Kudermetova in Paris' opening round but missed much of the clay-court season due to injury and played just two matches in the six weeks prior to Roland Garros.

In her first-ever meeting against Bouzkova, Swiatek broke serve four times, doubled Bouzkova's total of winners, and won seven of the last nine games in 1 hour and 33 minutes minutes on court in total.

Swiatek is assured of facing another unseeded player in the Round of 16, as she'll face either World No.41 Anastasia Potapova for a spot in the quarterfinals. Potapova came from 4-0 down in the first set of her 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4 win against China's Wang Xinyu, ranked No.37.

4: After saving a match point in beating Osaka in the last round, Swiatek needed four to finally finish off Bouzkova. She had one on the Czech's serve in the seventh game of the second set, and was pushed to deuce from 40-15 on her own serve before closing the match out.

10: Despite her prior inactivity, Swiatek had reason to be wary of Bouzkova entering the match, as she owns 10 career Top 10 wins.

16: Swiatek is now 16-4 in her career against players from the Czech Republic, and 3-1 this year. She also avoided the fate that befell her at 2024's first Grand Slam, which was a third-round loss to Bouzkova's compatriot Linda Noskova.

17: Swiatek's win extended her unbeaten streak in Paris, and her clay-court unbeaten streak this year, to 17 straight matches. She's lost just three sets in Paris in that time.

18: In her six career appearances at Roland Garros, Swiatek has never lost in the first three rounds. She's 18-0 in those matches, and has only lost one set. She's the only woman this century to achieve the feat.

32: In total, Swiatek hit 32 winners in victory to Bouzkova's 16.

2 - Iga Swiatek is the second player since the WTA Rankings were published in 1975 to win a match as World No. 1 at the Roland Garros the day of her birthday after Justine Henin in 2007 against Mara Santangelo. Birthday.

6/6 - Iga Swiatek is the only player this Century to make the Women's Singles Fourth Round at the Roland Garros at each of their first six main draw appearances. Fantastic.

wtatennis.com

My one wish for Iga for her next round is to finally be able to play with the roof open. 

I think having the roof closed changes how the ball moves so I'm sure she'd appreciate feeling like she's playing an outdoor tournament again (having played 3 straight under the roof).

As for the match itself not much to say other than really solid and powerful shots and this time zero drama or stress. 

Joy to watch as always. 

Hope she got to spend the few hours left in her Birthday with her sister and Dad who arrived just for the occasion.

Happy 23rd Iga!. 

Here is to many more celebrations just like this at your favourite place in the world. :)

Iga Swiatek survives thriller with Naomi Osaka at Roland Garros

PARIS -- For nearly three hours, nothing separated two four-time Grand Slam singles champions under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier. Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka, a former World No.1, were even at 5-all in the third set.

Swiatek, who earlier saved a match point, ultimately prevailed 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 on Wednesday night.

Given that Osaka has always had a tenuous relationship with clay -- and the fact Swiatek is a three-time Roland Garros champion and the best active player on clay -- this was something few saw coming.

“It’s hard to have any logical thoughts,” Swiatek told reporters, “because for sure it was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set. I honestly didn’t believe that I could win -- that would be pretty naïve.

“But I managed somehow to win this match. I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

Only five months into her comeback following the birth of daughter Skai, Osaka pushed Swiatek to the absolute limit.

In a tense and thrilling match that had the look and feel of a championship final, Osaka was -- as hard as it was to believe -- suddenly vintage Osaka. Ranked No.134 in the world, she played like it was 2019.

Osaka said she cried when she got off the court, but 30 minutes later was decidedly upbeat and quite thoughtful in her responses to the media.

“Probably the most fun match that I have played [since her comeback] so far,” Osaka said. “It just felt really incredible, the atmosphere, and how fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having, too. It was definitely very memorable for me.

“I kind of realize I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her. When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well.”

This was Swiatek’s 16th consecutive match-win at Roland Garros, the most since Justine Henin won 24 straight between 2005-10. This was also Swiatek’s 14th straight win this year.

Osaka actually won more points, had 17 more winners and more service breaks -- but Swiatek was better when it mattered. Match time: 2 hours, 57 minutes.

“That was much more intense for a second-round match than I expected,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview. “She played really, really great tennis. For sure, I’m happy that she’s back.”

Coming in, Swiatek was understandably deferential to Osaka.

“Nowadays in women's draw you can play Grand Slam champions early in the tournament,” Swiatek said. “It is pretty tricky because you know these players are really experienced. They also achieved many great things. So they have bigger kind of belief.”

She wasn’t kidding.

After splitting the first two sets, Osaka faced three break points in her opening service game -- and saved them all. She then broke Swiatek with a backhand crosscourt winner, which induced a primal scream. In Osaka’s second service game, she saved five more break points, before Swiatek’s forehand return found the net.

Now Osaka led 3-0 and served for the match at 5-3.

But at 30-all, she smashed a forehand into the net followed by a backhand that flew long. On Swiatek’s second break point, Osaka hit what looked like a makeable backhand just long.

And so the match was back on serve.

In the end, Osaka just couldn't close the deal. There were some tired-looking forehands and, with Osaka serving at 5-all, a double fault that gave Swiatek a pivotal 6-5 advantage.

Leading 30-15, Swiatek hit a screaming backhand crosscourt winner to go up 40-15. One more errant backhand from Osaka gave her the match.

“I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself,” Osaka said. “I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens.

“I also said in Australia that I’m kind of setting myself up for September anyway.”

That would be the US Open where she’s a two-time champion.

“Honestly, I just think about the journey that she had,” Swiatek said. “She’s a mother, and I guess, I have never been in that situation. It must be hard to combine these two things and come back after maternity leave.

“She played amazing today. I have big respect for her coming back. Her shots were really clean and really heavy. For sure, I think she improved her game. I’m happy that she’s back – but maybe we can play not three sets next time.”

Swiatek is tracking like Henin, which is a (very) good thing. Henin, who may have had the most breathtaking one-handed backhand in women’s tennis history, won three straight titles here from 2005-07 and four out of five.

With five more victories here, Swiatek can equal that feat. The only other player in the Open Era to three-peat was Monica Seles, in 1990-92, twice beating Steffi Graf in the final.

wtatennis.com

May 4, 2024 - Iga Swiatek wins the match of the year from match point down 

May 29, 2024 - Iga Swiatek wins the match of the year from match point down

It's been several hours now and I'm still having trouble formulating the right words to describe what I have seen. 

I had hoped that this match would be competitive and live up to it's billing, and saying that it did would be the understatement of the year. 

It is fair to say that no one expected Naomi Osaka to play as well as she did on her least favourite surface. 

She has been making real strides on it this season for the fist time in her career, but what she showed today was leaps and bounds beyond just getting comfortable on the red stuff. 

It was almost a masterclass, it's no wonder Iga said maybe Naomi will become a clay specialist soon too in her post match interview. 

With the performance she give today it's hard to argue otherwise. She was at times out hitting Iga. 

Hitting incredibly deep shots that would land right on the base line pushing Iga back (something only Rybakina, Sabelenka or Ostapenko have managed to do on clay). 

For someone who's not a natural clay courter or slider on the surface, Naomi was moving  extraordinarily well. 

One of my fave things about Naomi is that she has always been a clean ball striker. Her shots are so fluid and hit with so much power yet they always land in court. Probably one of the things I missed most about her game. 

And she had that today in abundance. 

So much so that she almost knocked out the world number 1 from her favourite tournament on her most dominant surface in the 2nd round. 

I still have no idea how Iga came back not only from match point down but 5/2 down in  the final set. 

I thought that nothing would rival the final Iga played with Sabalenka in Madrid earlier this month (where she saved 3 match points) but we definitely have a new contender for match of the year. 

The final set was a combination of Osaka getting nervous and tight having not been in this situation for some time, and Iga refusing to budge and taking her opportunities when it counted the most. 

I think playing under the roof also contributed to Osaka striking the ball so well, a closed roof essentially made it an indoor tournament and the conditions really suited Naomi's game. 

Iga did play under the roof in her previous match so didn't have to adjust much. Naomi was just unplayable at times saving a lot of break points with great serving.

At 5/3 match point Osaka I was honestly making peace with the fact that Iga would suffer her earliest lost in a Grand Slam since before she was number one and before we even knew her name. 

And I thought if she has to lose at least she's losing to not only a great player who's simply playing lights out tennis, but a great person and a friend. 

Someone thanks to whom we are lucky enough to have Iga in this sport. 

Naomi convinced Iga to stick it out and keep going when she was considering quitting the sport and continuing with higher education instead. 

So as a fan of not just Iga but this sport in general I will always be eternally grateful to Naomi for that. 

This goes without saying, but Naomi Osaka 4 time Grand Slam champion is definitely back. With this level no one will want to face her on the American hardcourts later this season. 

Although Naomi herself is very much looking forward to facing off against Iga on her favourite surface next. 

And as much stress as I know it would undoubtedly cause me, I very much want to see that. 

Take a bow Naomi Osaka thank you for creating a match no tennis fan will soon forget. 

The only thing that would have made this match even better would have been a full center court. 

Which unfortunately was sadly lacking.

As for Iga, thank you for being a fighter till the very end. 

For continuing to give your fans thrilling matches that invoke a kaleidoscope of emotions. 

For showcasing women's tennis in the best possible way. 

And  sharing your incredible talent, athleticism,  and exceptional mental resilience.

The saying champions find a way has never rang more true then today. 

We live to play another day.

Jazda! 

More Incredible stats:

All Iga's tour MP save wins: 1 v.  Osaka | RG 24 7-6 1-6 3-5 40-A* > 7-6 1-6 7-5 3 v.  Sabalenka | Madrid 24 7-5 4-6 5-6 *30-40 *40-A, *6-7 > 7-5 4-6 7-6

22,363 - At 22 years and 363 days, Iga Swiatek is the third youngest women's player after Monica Seles and Steffi Graf to win 16 consecutive matches at the French Open during the Open Era. Clan.

For the first time in her career, Iga Świątek wins a match where faced match points on return, and/or where her rival served for the match.

Iga Swiatek is 68-1 in completed clay court WTA main draw matches after winning the opening set - she only lost to Karolina Muchova in Prague 2019 (4-6 6-1 6-4). Possibility.

Iga Swiatek continues clay run at Roland Garros

 

Iga's new outfit it's growing on me but I miss the pink cap

PARIS -- It was the last point of the second set’s third game when Iga Swiatek unleashed a stinging forehand -- literally. The ball caught qualifier Leolia Jeanjean just inside the left thigh.

It wasn’t a malicious stroke -- Jeanjean actually ran into the ball -- but playing against the World No.1 brings more than the usual challenges. There was already a red mark when she exchanged a smile and a few light-hearted words with Swiatek on the sideline.

Monday’s first-round result, a 6-1, 6-2 Swiatek win, was hardly a surprise. She’s the first woman to win 15 consecutive matches at the French Open since Justine Henin, who took 24 consecutive matches between 2005-10.

Swiatek hit 26 winners (against 18 unforced errors) in a match that clocked in at a little over an hour. Swiatek broke Jeanjean five times.

That set up a second-round treat here at Roland Garros. There are two four-time Grand Slam singles champions in the field -- and they meet Wednesday. Among active players, Swiatek (70-16, .814) and Naomi Osaka (58-9, .753) have the best winning percentage in women’s Grand Slam singles matches.

“Really impressed,” Swiatek said of Osaka’s comeback. “She’s a great person, and her game style is pretty fun to watch as well. I’m just glad that she came back and she’s playing more tournaments even than before the break. I haven’t actually played against Naomi obviously on clay, so we’ll see how that’s going to go."

To be fair, they’re coming at this widely anticipated match from vastly different directions. Swiatek has been the World No.1 since winning the WTA Finals last November in Cancun. She’s coming off back-to-back victories at the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome and, riding a streak of 13 straight clay wins, is the favorite to win her third straight title at Roland Garros.

Osaka, meanwhile, is five months into her comeback after giving birth to daughter Shai and is ranked No.134. She’s had increasingly good results on European red clay. After losing her first match in Rouen, Osaka split two matches in Madrid before winning three straight in Rome. A straight-sets win over No.11-ranked Daria Kasatkina, a finalist in Charleston, was an eye-opener.

One of Osaka’s rituals is avoiding a look at the tournament draw; she prefers to focus solely on the next match. Initially, Osaka didn’t know she was in line to face Swiatek, but eventually figured it out.

“I was, like, `Why does everyone keep asking me about this draw?’ ” Osaka told reporters after winning her first-round match over Lucia Bronzetti. “Then I knew that I was in the top half, so I was, like, jokingly, `Well, it’s not like I’m playing Iga.’ Then everyone got quiet. So I was like, `Oh.’”

Osaka defeated Swiatek nearly five years ago in Toronto -- when she was only 18 -- but Swiatek won their most recent match, two years ago in the Miami final. Those were both on hard courts, the surface that produced Osaka’s four majors titles, but clay has not always been her friend. After defeating Lucia Bronzetti in the first round (it went three sets), Osaka has won five clay matches in a season for the first time in five years, when she was the No.1-ranked player.

The match against Swiatek should tell us just how far away she is from that level. Osaka, who is currently ranked No.134, was asked if she was going into the match not expecting too much.

“In a weird way, I definitely do feel like it’s a test to see where I’m at,” Osaka said. “but I wouldn’t say I have low expectations of myself. I’m a person that kind of thinks that I can win every match that I play. That’s kind of gotten me this far.

“I would never play a match thinking lowly of myself, no.”

In her 15 months away from the game, Osaka said she watched a lot of Swiatek on television.

“I’m honestly really excited,” Osaka said. “I watched her a lot when I was pregnant. I think it’s an honor to play her in the French Open, because she’s won more than once here, for sure. So taking it as an experience and kind of knowing that I feel like I’m the underdog, and I think I thrive in those situations.”

This is the kind of rich history, Osaka -- has never beaten a Top 10 player on clay -- is up against:

Swiatek, who turns 23 at the end of the month, is now 29-2 at Roland Garros, which works out to 93.3 percent. Only Margaret Court (95.2) was better.

“Obviously our tennis changed since Miami 2022, and also our [ranking] position as well, a little bit,” Swiatek said. “But for sure nowadays in women’s draw you can play Grand Slam champions early in the tournament. It is pretty tricky because you know these players are really experienced.

“They also achieved many great things. So they have bigger kind of belief, I would say.”

wtatennis.com

This match was played under the roof so took Iga a bit of time to adjust to the conditions (especially since practice is always under an open sky). 

This was also the fist match with different conditions vs Rome so don't think anyone including Iga herself expected perfection. 

First matches in a slam are always the trickiest so happy she got through it with relative ease, and will undoubtedly only get better with each match.

Tomorrow's forecast in Paris looks pretty awful, so I'm sure all 3 roofs will get a work out. 

And having played under there previously I think Iga will now be more comfortable.

Ever since Naomi Osaka came back from maternity leave fans have been waiting for their inevitable meeting, and now it's finally happening in the 2nd round of Roland Garros.

They have never played each other on clay, so that in itself will be interesting. 

I am very intrigued to see how it goes.

Jazda!

Iga Swiatek 3rd woman in Tennis history to win the Madrid-Rome double

 

In the latest clash between the World No.1 and No.2 players, top-seeded Iga Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday to win the Internazionali BNL d'Italia title.

Swiatek needed 1 hour and 29 minutes to beat Sabalenka for the eighth time in their 11 meetings. Swiatek has triumphed in Rome in three of the last four years, also taking the WTA 1000 title in 2021 and 2022.

"I kind of knew that if I'm going to work hard and if I'm going to be in the right mindset, this is achievable," Swiatek said afterwards. "I'm happy I was so focused and disciplined throughout the tournament to do that."

Stat corner: Swiatek's run to her 21st career WTA singles title, and her fourth of this year, increases a number of her staggering statistics.

Swiatek has now won her last nine singles finals. The last time the Polish player lost in a final was to Sabalenka at Madrid last year -- which is also the only time Sabalenka has defeated Swiatek in the five times they've met in finals (all of those on clay).

Rome becomes the third tournament where Swiatek is a three-time champion. Swiatek has also won three titles at Roland Garros (2020, 2022 and 2023) and Doha (2022, 2023 and 2024).

Swiatek also defeated Sabalenka in the Mutua Madrid Open final two weeks ago (saving three championship points) and she becomes the third player to win Rome and Madrid in the same year. Dinara Safina pulled off the double in 2009, and Serena Williams followed suit in 2013.

"For sure this match looked a little bit differently than in Madrid," Swiatek said. "I felt like I'm putting a lot of pressure. I just continued doing that throughout the whole match. Really proud of myself and really happy."

Swiatek, who turns 23 at the end of this month, is only the second woman to win three or more Internazionali BNL d'Italia titles before the age of 23 in the Open Era (since 1969). Gabriela Sabatini won four Rome titles before her 22nd birthday.

Tale of the tape: In Saturday’s final, strong depth on return gave Swiatek an early lead, breaking at love for 2-1. Swiatek was the steadier of the pair in the opening frame as she eased to the one-set advantage.

In the second set, Sabalenka came out firing, hitting more winners in the first two games than she had in the entire opening set (five). Sabalenka was rewarded with her first break points of the day, where she had five chances to break for an early 2-0 lead.

However, Swiatek is this year’s tour leader in break points saved, and she demonstrated that skill once again. The top seed found strong serves as she erased all of those break points, gritting out a crucial hold for 1-1 to keep pace with Sabalenka.

Swiatek saved two more break points in her following service game as well, which proved to be the last moment of peril on her delivery. She ended the final 7-for-7 on break points saved.

Swiatek took the lead for good at 4-3 after a netted backhand by Sabalenka ceded the first break of the second set. The World No.1 broke one more time for good measure to wrap up her latest WTA 1000 clay-court title.

wtatennis.com

Iga Swiatek Madrid-Rome champion. 22 years old. How about that.

I mentioned I would be surprised if the Rome final rivaled Madrid because in sport something like that is rarely replicated. It's what makes the great matches special. They don't come around often.

It certainly wasn't for Aryna's lack of trying though, she carved out 7 breakpoints, but Iga was simply too good.

Didn't give Aryna anything to work with, just played a calm composed match. 

As she so often does in finals and no matter how many times it happens it is always extraordinary. Her level of focus is something else.  

So that's 21 career titles (more than any other Polish player). 

10th WTA 1000 title (the 4th one this year)

3rd Rome title

9th straight final won

12 match win streak on clay

It's the stuff of legends. Rest up champ, get all the tiramisu you can handle.

See you at Roland Garros.

Jazda!

3 - Iga Swiatek has become the second player in the Open Era to win three titles at the Internazionali d’Italia before turning 23 after Gabriela Sabatini. Empress.


Iga Świątek has obtained her personal best WTA ranking points of 11695, the second highest of all time, only behind Serena Williams who had 13615. Successor.

7/11 - Iga Swiatek has won 7 of the 11 clay court WTA events entered as World No. 1 - only Chris Evert (9), Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf (8 each) won more titles after 11 tournaments played on the surface as #1. Illegal.


3 - Iga Swiatek is the third player to win the title in Madrid and Rome in the same season after Dinara Safina 2009 and Serena Williams in 2013 - all did it as World No. 1. MadRoma.


10 - Iga Swiatek is the youngest player to win their 10th WTA-1000 title since the format’s introduction in 2009: Serena Williams at 32 years 324 days Victoria Azarenka at 31 years 29 days Iga Swiatek at 22 years 352 days Hurtle.

Iga Swiatek into her 3rd final in Rome and a rematch with Sabalenka

 

Iga and Saba meeting in Madrid and this Saturday again in Rome

ROME -- Playing against the World No.1 on her favorite surface, you can’t afford to toss out any freebies.

On a glorious sunny Thursday at Foro Italico, Coco Gauff played Iga Swiatek to a 4-all dead heat through the first 50 minutes, matching skittering defense and booming forehands. And then, for a fleeting moment, Gauff took her eye off the ball.

Back-to-back double faults left her swinging her racket in frustration and gifted Swiatek with a considerable opening. Swiatek hit the line twice in four points and emerged with the first set. The second invariably followed, and Swiatek was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over the No.3-ranked player in the world.

This brings Swiatek to a tantalizing juncture in history.

Only Serena Williams (2013) managed to win consecutive titles in Madrid, Rome and Paris. Swiatek could lock down the first two legs in Saturday’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia final against the winner of the evening match between No.2 Aryna Sabalenka and No.13 Danielle Collins. With a win, the 22-year-old from Poland would find herself in the enviable position of being the overwhelming favorite at Roland Garros.

Swiatek, of course, has already won the Italian Open twice and the French Open on three occasions. Winning Madrid for the first time a few weeks ago was a personal breakthrough and you can see the confidence – as embodied in her swashbuckling game --flowing freely.

Swiatek has now won 11 consecutive matches. That’s also how many times she’s played Gauff in their WTA Tour careers and the victory count stands at 10; she’s 4-0 against the American on red clay.

Gauff, who turned 20 in March, was trying to become only the second player in a decade to reach the women’s singles final here in Rome before turning 21. The first? Iga Swiatek.

Gauff is only ranked two spots below Swiatek, but the gap remains considerable. It’s reminiscent of a comment Dominic Theim made to reporters after defeating Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros in 2016. Asked afterwards what the difference was, Thiem smiled and said, “About three years.”

“I thought that I played well majority of the match,” Gauff told reporters later. “It came down to certain moments. Yeah, she came up clutch. She had a lot of balls on the line, close to the line, which is what she does.”

Fact is, Gauff passed Caroline Wozniacki for the most wins in WTA 1000s before the age of 21 when she beat Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals. She’s the reigning US Open champion, but is still working to close the gap on Swiatek in this setting. Few players outside of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina can consistently put themselves in the Pole's orbit.

Gauff has been focusing on her service game in practice, but it’s been wanting, particularly in the big moments. Double faults are often the result of nerves under stress and she leaves the tournament with a total of 45 in five matches.

“The double-faults, they did come just in that one game,” Gauff told reporters. “Overall, if I'm going 120 [miles per hour] on the serves, I have to expect that.

“But overall I would say from just this match, I feel more negative emotions right now. Looking at the whole tournament from where I started to now, I definitely feel like it’s major improvement."

Said Swiatek, “For sure these are nice words. Hard for me to say. She’s the one who’s playing this kind of tennis and feeling what she can do with her racket. It’s a compliment from her.”

Swiatek wound up breaking Gauff four times, while giving up only one break herself. When it happened in the fifth game of the second set, the match was effectively over. It ran 1 hour and 48 minutes but somehow felt quicker.

After the last backhand -- following a sharp forehand service return -- Gauff walked slowly to the net with a resigned look on her face. Swiatek shook hands, acknowledged the chair umpire and happily danced on Stadio Centrale.

When Swiatek paints the lines like she did at the end, are there times when she feels unbeatable?

“No,” Swiatek said. “If I would feel that way, I wouldn’t play so well because I always try to remind myself that I shouldn’t expect anything, take anything for granted. Usually when I feel like this one is going to be a winner, I’m going to win this game, it doesn’t happen, so ... I have to think a little bit differently to be more efficient.”


wtatennis.com

To think we had to wait a whole year for these 2 to meet and now we're getting a 2nd meeting between 2 of the world's best in almost as many weeks. 

Everyone was hoping for it, but in sport nothing is ever a guarantee so the fact they both made it is kind of amazing. 

Especially considering the effort they both showed in Madrid, to than turn around and go to a different country with different conditions, weather and court wise and make it all the way to the end is extraordinary.

I'm not expecting this one to be as high quality maybe not even as dramatic (because honestly I'm not sure anything will ever match it) and again it's sport so it's rare things happen the same way in such a short span of time. 

And they both have to be tired if not physically than certainly mentally.

But no matter the result I fully expect it'll be competitive, that we're pretty much guaranteed, and I CANNOT wait. 

I had low expectations going into this week knowing how much effort Iga put in in Madrid. The fact she has made back to back finals is just a bonus. And I'm full of awe and national pride.

As always I will be cheering for Iga with all my heart, I hope she plays free and like she has nothing to lose and just goes for it really. 

She's already given her fans so much joy and moments to remember since February. Win or lose it'll be the cherry on the cake.

I know Sabalenka will be really wanting this win and will have definitely learned from Madrid so I expect her to play a more measured and less chaotic match in clutch moments in particular. 

It'll be interesting to see what tactics Iga employs to counteract it all on the slower clay of Rome vs the altitude of Madrid.

Seriously is it Saturday yet?.

Jazda!.

Players who reached the finals at both the WTA 1000 in Madrid and Rome in the same year

•  Dinara Safina (2009) 

•  Serena Williams (2013) 

•  Simona Halep (2017) 

•  Ons Jabeur (2022) 

•  Iga Swiatek (2024) 

•  Aryna Sabalenka (2024)

3 - Since the WTA rankings were first published in 1975, Iga Swiatek has become only the third player to reach multiple Italian Open finals as the WTA's #1, along with Serena Williams (three) and Monica Seles (two). Benchmark.

70.6 - Iga Swiatek (70.6%) is one of four players (min. 10 wins) in the past 40 years to hold a win rate of 70%+ on clay against WTA top 10 opponents, along with Chris Evert (78.9%) , Steffi Graf (76.7%) and Justine Henin (73.8%). Whoa.

18 - Only Conchita Martinez (24) and Serena Williams (20) have won more consecutive completed matches - retirements excluded - at the Internazionali d'Italia than Iga Swiatek (18, level with Chris Evert) in the Open Era. Legionary.

40 - Since the format’s introduction in 2009, Iga Swiatek (40%, 12/30) holds the highest percentage of finals reached from WTA-1000 main draws entered. Serena Williams (36.7%, 18/49) is the next best in the format's history. Inevitable.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka playing each other in the Madrid AND Rome finals this year is the first time since *2000* that the WTA #1 and #2 will meet TWICE in a TWO-WEEK SPAN.  The last time was Hingis and Davenport in the 2000 Indian Wells & Miami finals

4 - It would be the fourth meeting on clay between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka as World No. 1 and 2 - equalling Evert & Navratilova for the most meetings on the surface in the past 40 years as the WTA's top-2 ranked players. Epic.

Iga Swiatek makes 3rd semi final in Rome

 

ROME -- Yet another reason why Iga Swiatek is nearly unbeatable on clay:

Madison Keys struck a heavy ball to her backhand side that was almost past her, when Swiatek suddenly stopped. In a split second, she reached out and flicked a lovely little drop shot that barely cleared the net and all but died in the dust. It may have looked like an accident to the untrained eye, but she clearly did it on purpose.

Keys, who thought she had won the point, responded with a shoulder shrug. Swiatek has that effect on people, especially when she’s playing on her favorite surface.

On a steamy Tuesday at the Internazionali d’Italia, Swiatek took this quarterfinal match 6-1, 6-3 in 76 minutes. On Thursday she’ll play No.3 Coco Gauff.

With the win Swiatek will push her WTA rankings point total to at least 11,085 when the rankings are updated on Monday, equaling the highest point total or her career. She will become one of only two players to break the 11,000 point mark in the WTA Rankings, along with Serena Williams.

While Swiatek has been the recent standard in Rome and Paris, she added another title to her resume when she won recently in Madrid. That brought the possibility of achieving another rarity -- back-to-back victories in Spain and Italy. Only Serena Williams (2013) pulled that off, but it certainly seems well within her grasp.

Imagine what she could do with a week off? Oh, we’ll find out in 12 days when Roland Garros begins play.

The 22-year-old from Poland will be looking for fourth title in five years and has won 25 of 26 matches in Paris in the past four appearances. Based on her scintillating play here, that doesn’t look like a reach by any means.

Against Keys, Swiatek faced 10 break points -- and saved them all. She broke Keys’ formidable serve four times.

Swiatek has already fashioned a record of 36-4 for the year and her hold on the No.1 ranking among Hologic WTA Tour players is 3,412 points over No.2 Aryna Sabalenka.

You have to feel for Keys, who has now lost to Swiatek twice in a span of 12 days. She reached the semifinals in Madrid, falling by the identical score of 6-1, 6-3, and made the quarters in Rome. And, it should be noted, Keys saw this coming.

Chatting with reporters after defeating Sorana Cirstea in the fourth round, she talked about how her gifts for power were diminished by clay.

“It takes away from my attributes,” she explained. “Everything is dampened just a little bit. That’s the biggest thing.

“It’s not Cincinnati at 2 in the afternoon on a bouncy fast court. Sounds like a good time to me.”

Keys was laughing when she said it, but it’s true. The only time Keys has beaten Swiatek was two years ago -- on a Cincinnati hard court.

On clay, though, it’s a completely different game. Swiatek has beaten her all three times.

“She moves on it really well -- like no other player,” Keys said. “She slides so well. It’s a tough situation, because you can’t really wrong-foot her.”

The 29-year-old American missed the first two months of the year with a shoulder injury and is playing with a new, lighter racket to ease the stress on that joint. After a 3-3 start, she’s won seven of nine matches in Europe and should feel good entering Paris.

A few more bits of statistical mayhem for you numbers-crunchers out there. Swiatek is:31-4 in WTA 1000 clay court events, the best winning percentage (.889) since the format was introduced in 2009.

49-4 on clay (.925) as the World No.1; only Chris Evert and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario were better.

80-0 in completed WTA 1000 matches when she’s won the first set.

Swiatek is looking for her third Italian Open title in four years. She might actually be challenged because all eight quarterfinalists are ranked inside the Top 25 for the first time in Rome in two decades.

wtatennis.com

With her quarterfinal win over Madison Keys, Iga Swiatek is now 80-0 in completed WTA-1000 matches when she takes the first set

75 - Iga Swiatek now has 75 match wins on clay in 85 WTA matches. 

Only four players in the Open Era have reached 75 wins on the surface in fewer matches – Monica Seles, Nancy Richey (80), Chris Evert (81) and Margaret Court (82). Wow.

53.3 - Reaching a 16th WTA-1000 semi-final from 30 main draws entered, Iga Swiatek (53.3%) has surpassed Serena Williams (53.1%, 26-49) for the highest rate of WTA-1000 SFs reached, since the format’s introduction in 2009. Otherworldly.

Seems like I was worried for nothing. What are the odds Iga would beat Keys by the exact same score line as Madrid. I mean really. 

Iga just keeps surpassing expectations in Rome. In her interview she actually said today was the best day she felt on court. 

That's scary considering we're at the semi-final stage, and instead of being exhausted it seems like she still has some energy left to burn. 

A short match like today doesn't hurt however. 

I see the match with Gauff going one of 2 ways, it'll either be really physical and competitive for at least a set, or one sided and littered with errors. 

Personally I'm hoping for the latter. Especially if it's Saba or Collins who make the final. 

But this tournament has had plenty of surprises so I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch.

Just enjoying each match with Iga, who when in her element is an absolute joy.

Looking forward to Thursday.

Jazda!.

Iga Swiatek reaches quarterfinals in Rome for the 4th straight year

In a matchup between two women who have reached the top spot of the WTA rankings, Iga Swiatek fended off Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 to reach the Round of 16 at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

"For sure, wasn't easy," Swiatek said after her latest win. "I'm happy in important moments at the end of both sets I was ready to break. I got my focus up a little bit. At the end that's what made the difference, so I'm happy."

Swiatek, the current World No.1, needed all of her mettle to oust Germany's Kerber, who held the No.1 ranking for 34 weeks during her career. Kerber returned to tour this January following a yearlong maternity leave.

Swiatek, who won Rome in 2021 and 2022, prevailed over Kerber in 1 hour and 38 minutes on Monday.

Now into her 103rd week ranked No.1, Swiatek improved to 3-0 against Kerber, including a victory at the German's comeback event at the United Cup at the start of the season. Swiatek also extends her lead as this year's current match-win leader with 33 victories on tour (Elena Rybakina is in second place with 30).

Next up: Swiatek will now face No.18 seed Madison Keys of the United States in the quarterfinals. Keys defeated No.28 seed Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-1 earlier on Monday, which was Keys' first win in three career meetings with Cirstea.

After rehabbing her shoulder for the first two months of the season, Keys is surging again and has won seven of her past eight matches. But her one loss in that timeframe was to Swiatek, who beat Keys 6-1, 6-3 in the Madrid semifinals just over a week ago.

"Playing against [Keys] is not easy," Swiatek said. "The most important thing is to stay focused and really disciplined. That's what I'm going to do for the next days."

Match moments: On Monday, neither Swiatek nor Kerber was troubled on serve through 4-3, but Swiatek fired a forehand winner to break for 5-3 and serve for the set. Kerber, though, found some vintage groundstrokes to pull back on serve at 5-4.

Swiatek then held five set points on Kerber's serve in that game, but the German swatted away each of those chances.

Kerber pulled off some more magic serving at 6-5, erasing another two set points as she clawed from 15-40 to deuce. However, a wide forehand error by Kerber gave Swiatek an eighth set point, and the Pole closed out the set at last after a netted error by Kerber.

Kerber edged ahead 2-0 in the second set, but Swiatek raised her level, cracking a backhand pass down the line to break back for 2-2. That break turned the tide completely back in Swiatek's favor as she eased home from there.

Swiatek finished the match with 32 winners to Kerber's 14, and the top seed also had one fewer unforced error than Kerber. Kerber saved nine of the 13 break points she faced -- seven of those being set points in the first set -- but she only broke Swiatek twice.

wtatennis.com

Angie may not have won, but she showed a great level once again particularly in that first set saving all those set points, and than in the 2nd breaking Iga's serve.  Very impressive. 

If she can play like this at Roland Garros no one will want to have her in their draw especially in the early rounds.

As for Iga she showed real composure today once again, especially after getting broken in the 2nd. Just raised her level and went right back to work.

Iga of 2 years ago would have gotten really frustrated and rushed through the 2nd set. It really shows how much she has matured and how far she has come in terms of trusting her game.  

I think it's good that Angie give Iga a challenge because she's going to need that match toughness facing Keys again tomorrow. 

Hopefully she can recover well physically having to play matches on back to back days. And a day match as well, will definitely help Keys serve so Iga will have to be on alert.

Wishing her energy and focus for tomorrow (whatever happens I'll be proud of another fantastic run).

Jazda!.

4 - Iga Swiatek is the third youngest player in the last 30 years to make 4+ consecutive quarter-finals at the Internazionali d’Italia - older only than Gabriela Sabatini and Amelie Mauresmo. Poker.


92.3% - Iga Swiatek is 48-4 on clay court as World No. 1 (92.3% win %): since the WTA Rankings were published in 1975 only Chris Evert (96.1%) and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (92.9%) have a higher ratio as #1 - min. 10 matches. Cosy.

88.2% - Iga Swiatek has become the player with the higher winning percentage in WTA-1000 clay court events since the format was introduced in 2009 (88.2%, 30-4) - min. 5 matches. Undisputed.