World No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland eased past Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-2 6-2 in the final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to win her fifth WTA title in a row.
Entering the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final, Swiatek had dropped an average of 3.4 games in her previous seven finals which she all won and today’s victory was just as dominant with only four games lost. The ninth-seeded Jabeur pulled off one minor comeback attempt late in the second set, when she won two games in a row from 0-4 to 2-4, but the powerful Swiatek got back in charge and won the match in one hour and 22 minutes.
The 20-year-old Swiatek won 42 of her last 43 sets contested and this week in Italy she lost a total of just 21 games.
After a first-round bye in Rome, Swiatek beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Victoria Azarenka, Bianca Andreescu, Victoria Azarenka and lastly Ons Jabeur, to extend her winning streak to 28 matches.
With her title defence, Swiatek has won 11 straight matches at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the longest streak in Rome since Serena Williams posted 21 straight victories between 2012 and 2019. Moreover, Swiatek has become only the second woman to lift four WTA 1000 titles in a single season, following Serena in 2013.
Swiatek leads the Hologic WTA Tour with 35 main-draw match wins this season, in addition to winning two Billie Jean King Cup singles rubbers.
Jabeur, who won a WTA 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open last week, will rise to a new career-high ranking of No.6.
Iga Swiatek’s winning Asics kit: the Paris Match Graphic Tank, Paris Match Skirt, and Gel Resolution 8 Tennis Shoes. (photos: Jimmie48)
Seems the article about no dominant player was premature.
JohnnyB, don’t forget that Yaseen also wrote that Iga would dominate the clay-court season https://womenstennisblog.com/2022/04/04/iga-swiatek-clay-court-season-favorite/
Swiatek will NOT sustain this run, and will never be a consistent major winner like Serena, Venus, Steffi, Monica, Martina Nav., Chrissie, etc. She lacks the mental fortitude. Watch..someone like Penko will beat her at RG and she will be a “crying mess” again, “mental coach” notwithstanding. Sheeesh!!!!!