WTA Rome: Iga Swiatek Back on Top in Italy?

The Madrid Disappointment

The Madrid tournament has just come to a close in the Spanish capital, and to say that Poland's Iga Swiatek fell short of her ambitions would be an understatement. She faced significant challenges in some of her matches, including losing the first set of her opening round against young Alexandra Eala (world No. 72).

However, she showed flashes of dominance, winning the first set 6-0 against top 15 player Diana Shnaider, only to struggle to close out the match, eventually losing the second set in a tiebreak. As the defending champion, she suffered her first 0-6 loss since 2021 and her first on clay since 2019 in the quarterfinals against world No. 5 Madison Keys. It only took 24 minutes for the American to win the first set of their quarterfinal.

Despite regaining the advantage in the next two sets, the 23-year-old Polish player couldn’t recover from her loss to American Cori Gauff in the semifinals, unable to defend her title after a crushing 1-6, 1-6 defeat in just 1 hour and 6 minutes. This heavy loss likely took a toll on Swiatek’s confidence, as she appeared to struggle in her last two matches.

Roman Hope

In this WTA Italian Open, Swiatek is expected to return with a hunger for success on the clay, but more importantly, she’s looking to regain her confidence and prove to her rivals that she’s still very much a force to be reckoned with on the big stage. With her last match being on May 1, the Polish star has had time to recover and put her recent struggles behind her. This should not be difficult for her, as she arrives in Rome for a tournament she knows well.

At 23, Swiatek is the defending champion of this tournament, having won it last year in straight sets against Aryna Sabalenka. This victory was far from Swiatek’s first on Italian soil, as she also took home the title in 2021 (against Karolina Pliskova) and in 2022 (against Ons Jabeur). Winning two consecutive titles should reassure both her and her competitors that she has all the qualities to repeat her success again this year.

Her struggles on the clay courts of Madrid might actually work in her favor, as her opponents may underestimate her. With a determined mindset, Swiatek is expected to arrive at her matches in Rome ready to prove she’s regained her form, with her ultimate goal being to prepare as best as possible for the upcoming tournament on the clay courts of the French capital.

Eyes On Paris

Indeed, the Grand Slam in France is fast approaching (May 25 – June 8, check out our tennis predictions). Swiatek will enter Paris as the favorite, having won the tournament four times, including three consecutive victories in 2022, 2023, and 2024. There’s no better way for her to surprise her rivals and rack up more wins than with a strong performance in Rome. Additionally, she needs to get back on track to earn points for the WTA Race, which she won in 2023 against Jessica Pegula.

To prepare for Roland Garros, Swiatek is determined to go all the way in Rome.

Her direct rival is none other than world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who has just claimed her third WTA 1000 title in Madrid. After a dominant victory over Coco Gauff, the Belarusian proved that she’s in great form on clay and will be a formidable opponent leading into the French Open, a Grand Slam she has yet to win. Swiatek will need to find her best tennis again in Rome to impress her opponents as the season's most important event draws near.

Our WTA Rome Prediction: Iga Swiatek wins the tournament!