Tennis

Iga Świątek, the world's top-ranked tennis player, has extended her winning streak on clay to 12 matches after securing her third Rome title with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final.Świątek, who has now won 28 consecutive sets on clay, will enter the French Open as the overwhelming favorite to defend her title. She is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win both the Madrid and Rome titles on clay in the same season.Despite her impressive form, Świątek remains cautious about her chances at Roland Garros. "Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis, but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," she said. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court."Świątek's victory over Sabalenka was a clinical display of tennis. She broke Sabalenka's serve twice in the first set and once in the second set to secure the win in just 79 minutes.Sabalenka, who has won the last two Australian Open titles, admitted that she did not play well in the first set. "I wasn't feeling my game well," she said. "In the second set, I tried to stay a little bit more aggressive, but I didn't use my opportunities."Świątek's victory in Rome is a testament to her dominance on clay. She has now won four of the last five clay-court tournaments she has played in, including the French Open in 2020 and 2022.With her victory in Rome, Świątek has extended her lead at the top of the WTA rankings. She is now 2,000 points ahead of second-ranked Sabalenka.

Iga Swiatek's dominance on the WTA Tour continued unabated as she secured her third Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in Rome, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. The victory marked a significant milestone in her career, making her the first player to win four tour-level titles this year and the first to win both Madrid and Rome in the same year since 2013.Swiatek's triumph in Rome was a testament to her unwavering consistency and exceptional form. She has now won all four of her titles this year at WTA 1000 events, a feat that underscores her status as the world's top-ranked player. Her victory in Rome also marked her 10th WTA title overall, a testament to her remarkable rise in the sport.The match against Sabalenka was a rematch of their thrilling encounter in the Madrid final two weeks ago, where Swiatek prevailed in a nail-biting three-hour battle. However, in Rome, Swiatek displayed a clinical performance, controlling the match from start to finish. She broke Sabalenka's serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, securing the victory with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 scoreline.Swiatek's victory in Rome has further solidified her position as the favorite for the upcoming French Open. She has now won 21 tour-level titles in her career, including two Grand Slams, and her current form suggests that she is poised to add to her tally in Paris.

Swiatek and Sabalenka: A Rivalry on the RiseThe rivalry between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka has been simmering for some time, but it may be about to reach a boiling point. The two players, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, respectively, are set to face off in the final of the Italian Open on Saturday, just two weeks after their epic three-hour battle in the Madrid final.While Swiatek has a 7-3 head-to-head advantage over Sabalenka, their matches have been anything but one-sided. In Madrid, Sabalenka had three match points but ultimately fell short in a third-set tiebreaker.The upcoming match in Rome is crucial for both players. Swiatek is looking to maintain her dominance and extend her winning streak to 29 matches. Sabalenka, on the other hand, is eager to avenge her Madrid defeat and claim her first title in Rome.The key to the match could lie in the surface. The slower conditions in Rome may favor Swiatek's more consistent groundstrokes over Sabalenka's raw power. However, Sabalenka's serve and return game could still pose a significant threat.Another factor to consider is the players' form. Swiatek has not dropped a set in Rome, while Sabalenka has played two three-setters and survived a third-set tiebreaker against Elina Svitolina. However, Sabalenka has had an extra day of rest, which could give her an advantage.Mentally, both players are determined to win. Sabalenka is eager to avoid another heartbreaking loss to Swiatek, while Swiatek wants to maintain her edge heading into the French Open.Ultimately, the winner of the Rome final may be the player who can best handle the pressure and execute their game plan. If Swiatek can continue her hot streak and neutralize Sabalenka's power, she will be the favorite. However, if Sabalenka can find a way to overcome her nerves and play aggressively, she could pull off an upset.

In the highly anticipated Rome semifinal, Iga Swiatek once again proved her dominance on clay, defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. This victory extended Swiatek's winning streak against Gauff to 10-1, highlighting the vast gap between the two players' clay-court prowess.Swiatek's relentless aggression and pinpoint accuracy forced Gauff into numerous errors, particularly on her weaker forehand. The American's second serve, which she has been working to improve, proved to be a liability, with Swiatek capitalizing on its weakness. Gauff saved seven of the 11 break points she faced, but the constant pressure proved too much to handle.Despite Gauff's valiant efforts, Swiatek's all-around game and superior clay-court skills were simply too much to overcome. The Polish star has now won 10 of their 11 career meetings, with Gauff's lone victory coming in Cincinnati last year.Swiatek's victory sets up a potential rematch of the Madrid final against Aryna Sabalenka or a clash with Danielle Collins, who has been enjoying a resurgence this spring. Gauff, on the other hand, will need to find a way to improve her clay-court game if she wants to challenge Swiatek's dominance.

Elena Rybakina Withdraws from Rome Due to Illness, Title Defense ThwartedDefending champion Elena Rybakina has regrettably withdrawn from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, citing illness. The No. 4 seed, who has been in impressive form on clay this season, expressed her disappointment at not being able to compete."I am disappointed to have to withdraw from Rome this year, but unfortunately I do not feel well enough to compete," Rybakina said in a statement. "I have such good memories from last year and was looking forward to defending my title."Rybakina's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament, as she was one of the favorites to win. Last year, she captured her first WTA 1000 title on clay at the Foro Italico, defeating Anhelina Kalinina in the final.The Kazakhstani star has been known to suffer from allergies in Rome and at Roland Garros, and she appeared under the weather during Monday's Media Day. She struggled to answer questions during her pre-tournament press conference, hinting at her discomfort.Rybakina was scheduled to face Irina-Camelia Begu in her opening round after receiving a first-round bye. She will be replaced in the women's singles draw by lucky loser Océane Dodin.Rybakina's absence opens up the draw for other contenders, including Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Ons Jabeur. The tournament will still feature a strong field of players, but Rybakina's withdrawal is a notable loss.

The WTA tour shifts its focus to Rome for the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, where the world's top players will vie for the title on the iconic red clay of the Foro Italico. After a thrilling Madrid Open, the women's draw in Rome promises more captivating matches and potential upsets.World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, fresh off her Madrid triumph, will be the player to beat. The Polish star has a remarkable 14-2 record in Rome, including two titles. Her quarterfinal draw appears manageable, with Marketa Vondrousova and Ekaterina Alexandrova as potential obstacles.Coco Gauff, ranked third in the world, will be eager to prove her clay-court credentials. Despite a disappointing start to the season on clay, Gauff has a strong record in Rome, reaching the semifinals in 2021. She could face a stern test against former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round.Elena Rybakina, the reigning Rome champion, will be another contender. Her serve-based game has proven effective on clay, as evidenced by her Stuttgart title and Madrid semifinal appearance. Danielle Collins, who defeated Rybakina in the Miami final, could be a potential threat in her quarter.Aryna Sabalenka, the Madrid runner-up, will be looking to bounce back from her heartbreaking loss to Swiatek. However, her record in Rome is less impressive, and she could face a tough quarterfinal against Ons Jabeur or Dayana Yastremska.The semifinals could feature a rematch of the Madrid final between Swiatek and Sabalenka, while Rybakina and Gauff could clash in the other semifinal. The final could be a repeat of the Madrid semifinal, with Rybakina seeking revenge against Swiatek.With a star-studded field and the Roland Garros just around the corner, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia promises to be a thrilling spectacle of women's tennis.