Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 10 matches as she advanced to the Rome semifinals. Facing Madison Keys, Swiatek delivered a masterful performance, especially with a remarkable backhand drop shot. This shot, executed when the ball was nearly past her, demonstrated her quick reflexes and strategic play—it skimmed just over the net and settled into the clay, misleading even the keenest observers into thinking it was unintentional. On the contrary, Swiatek’s precise control left Keys, who assumed she had secured the point, merely shrugging in response. Swiatek’s prowess on her preferred clay surface continues to leave her opponents and spectators in awe.
Swiatek’s Dominant Performance at the Internazionali d’Italia
On a humid Tuesday at the Internazionali d’Italia, Iga Swiatek decisively won her quarterfinal match against her opponent with scores of 6-1, 6-3, wrapping up in just 76 minutes. She is set to face the victor of the evening match between Coco Gauff (No.3) and Zheng Qinwen (No.7) on Thursday.
Swiatek’s recent victory not only showcases her prowess but also significantly boosts her WTA ranking points to a projected total of 11,085 by next Monday. This update will tie her own highest career points total, making her one of the only two players, alongside Serena Williams, to surpass the 11,000-point threshold in the WTA Rankings.
Having set a high bar in Rome and Paris, Swiatek added another accolade to her list with her recent triumph in Madrid. This victory opens up the chance for her to achieve a rare feat—consecutive wins in both Spain and Italy, a milestone previously achieved only by Serena Williams in 2013. As the anticipation builds, the tennis world is eager to see what Swiatek could accomplish with a brief respite, especially with the Roland Garros tournament commencing in just 12 days.
Swiatek’s Dominance Continues at Paris Tournament
The 22-year-old from Poland is on the hunt for her fourth title in five years, boasting an impressive record of winning 25 out of 26 matches in Paris during her last four appearances. Her exceptional performance in Paris makes the prospect of another victory highly plausible.
In her recent match against Keys, Swiatek demonstrated remarkable resilience by saving all 10 break points she faced and breaking Keys’ strong serve four times. This season, Swiatek has compiled a stellar record of 36 wins to only 4 losses, solidifying her position as the No.1 ranked player on the Hologic WTA Tour with a significant lead of 3,412 points over the second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Keys, despite her efforts and reaching the semifinals in Madrid and the quarters in Rome, has found challenges against Swiatek, losing to her twice within just 12 days. After her fourth-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, Keys commented on the difficulties clay presents for her power-based game, noting that the surface “dampens” her strengths. She humorously compared the clay courts unfavorably to the faster, bouncier conditions of a Cincinnati hard court — a surface where she has previously defeated Swiatek. Yet, on clay, Swiatek has consistently outplayed her, winning all three of their encounters on the surface.
Impressive Performance Highlights in Tennis
Madison Keys praised her opponent’s unparalleled agility on the court, noting, “She moves on it really well—like no other player. She slides so well. It’s a difficult scenario, as it’s nearly impossible to catch her off balance.”
After recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for the first two months of the year, the 29-year-old American has adapted to playing with a new, lighter racket to mitigate stress on her shoulder. With a shaky start of 3-3, she has since claimed victory in seven out of nine matches in Europe, positioning her strongly as she heads to Paris.
For the enthusiasts of tennis statistics, here’s some compelling data: Iga Swiatek boasts a remarkable record in WTA 1000 clay court events with 31 wins and only 4 losses, translating to the highest winning percentage (.889) since this format started in 2009. On clay surfaces as the World No.1, her record is an impressive 49-4 (.925), a feat surpassed only by Chris Evert and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Moreover, Swiatek has a perfect record in WTA 1000 matches, maintaining an 80-0 streak when she wins the first set.
As Swiatek vies for her third Italian Open title in four years, this year’s competition promises to be more intense than usual. This is marked by the fact that all eight quarterfinalists are ranked within the Top 25, a first in Rome in two decades.
