Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek won two matches this Saturday to move into the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final, where she’ll face former Rome champion Karolina Pliskova.
The day started with the remaining quarterfinal between Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina, which was postponed from Friday to Saturday because of rain. In their first career meeting, the seed No.15 Swiatek eliminated the 2017 and 2018 Rome titlist 6-2 7-5.
Swiatek displayed solid serving performance, while maintaining pressure on Svitolina’s serve to comfortably win the first set in 36 minutes. In the third game of the second set, Svitolina recorded her first break, but Swiatek then surged to win three consecutive games to establish a 4-2 lead. The Ukrainian managed to level at 5-5, but Swiatek edged the next two games.
Spotted in the stands was Svitolina’s husband-to-be Gael Monfils.
Besides covering on-court action, our Jimmie48 also took some cool black-and-white photos of players getting ready to take the court.
Later on Saturday, Swiatek faced Coco Gauff, a rested opponent who didn’t have to complete her previous match as Ashleigh Barty retired injured.
It was a meeting of the first teenagers to reach Rome semifinals since 2009 and a clash of two highest-ranked WTA youngsters. The world No.35 Gauff hit seven aces and finished the match with 25 winners to 16 unforced errors, but Swiatek edged the high-quality contest 6-2 7-5 with a more modest winners-to-unforced-errors differential, although also positive, 33 to 32.
The 17-year-old Gauff is looking great this season in a black New Balance tank and a colorful skirt. The 19-year-old Swiatek is sporting the Asics Spring Match Graphic Tank and a pleated green skirt from the collection.
In her second final this season, Swiatek will face Karolina Pliskova, who advanced with a 6-1 3-6 6-2 win over Croatia’s Petra Martic.
The world No.9 Pliskova is through to her third straight Italian Open final. The Czech won the title in 2019.
The Swiatek vs. Pliskova final starts at 14:30 local time on Sunday. They have never faced each other so far.
