Iga Swiatek of Poland delivered a commanding performance at the Italian Open on Thursday, defeating local favorite Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0. This marked a swift rebound for the world No. 2 following her surprising 6-1, 6-1 semifinal loss to Coco Gauff in Madrid last week, which Swiatek attributed to unresolved "personal stuff."
The three-time Rome champion, who last won the tournament in 2022, showcased her signature clay-court mastery, winning 21 of her last 23 matches at the event. "I felt like the ball was kind of listening to me today," she said post-match, emphasizing her focus on consistency ahead of the French Open starting May 25 – where she has claimed four Grand Slam titles.
As the final major warmup before Roland Garros, all eyes are on Swiatek’s clash with American Danielle Collins next. Despite her dominance this week, the Polish star remains cautious: "You just need to continue the work… and not expect [performances like this] to happen more often."
