Swiatek Cruises Into Italian Open Semi-Finals
Hope
Iga Swiatek produced one of her best performances of the season on Wednesday after defeating fifth seed Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.
The victory marked Swiatek’s first win against a Top 10 opponent in 2026 and continued her impressive run on clay in the Italian capital, where she is a three-time champion.
The Polish star needed just over an hour to overpower Pegula on centre court, delivering a dominant display that underlined her growing confidence ahead of the French Open later this month.
Speaking after the game, Swiatek said she feels her game is improving at the right time in the season.
“I feel much better. I have a lot of confidence in my shots,” Swiatek said after the match. “I used that from the beginning of the match and kept putting pressure on Jessie. I’m really happy with how I played.”
The former World Number 1 will now face either Elena Rybakina or Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals. A potential final against reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff could await on Saturday.
Swiatek has not won a clay-court title since lifting her fourth French Open crown in 2024, but her recent performances in Rome suggest she may be returning to her best form on her preferred surface.
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu is set to return to action at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, which begins on Saturday.
The British number 1 has not competed since Indian Wells in March due to a post-viral illness that forced her to withdraw from four consecutive tournaments. Raducanu had travelled to Rome and trained for the Italian Open but later decided she was not ready to compete.
Her Strasbourg wildcard entry is expected to provide valuable preparation ahead of the French Open, which starts on 24 May.
