Iga Swiatek continues her domination on earth. The Pole, world No. 1 and winner of the Masters 1000 in Madrid nine days ago, dominated in two sets (7-5, 6-3) and 1h37 the former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber, this Monday in the eighth final of the WTA 1000 in Rome. She thus extends her series of successes on clay, pocketing a ninth victory in a row. Her last defeat on this surface dates back to the semi-final of the WTA 500 in Stuttgart, where she lost in three sets against Elena Rybakina.
Further proof of her consistency on ocher: this is her fourth appearance in a row in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 in Rome. In 2021 and 2022, she did better, winning at the Foro Italico, while she had to give up in the third set of her quarter-final against Rybakina in 2023. To try to reach the last four again, she will have to winning against the American Madison Keys, 16th in the world, who defeated the Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
To win this Monday, Swiatek had to fight, needing eight set points to conclude the first round. After winning this one, the Pole even had her throw-in stolen from the start to be led 2-0. But three games won in a row put her back on track, to finally conclude this match with confidence.
