Iga Swiatek got off to the perfect start at the Italian Open on Thursday, beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets to begin her title defence. (More Tennis News)
Iga Swiatek defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0, and progressed through to the next round with Naomi Osaka
Iga Swiatek got off to the perfect start at the Italian Open on Thursday, beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets to begin her title defence. (More Tennis News)
Swiatek is yet to reach a final in 2025 but looked back at home in her opener in Rome as she brushed the Italian aside 6-1 6-0 in just 54 minutes.
The world number two raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set, serving to love in her first two service games before Cocciaretto got on the board.
However, after giving up a game to make it 5-1, Swiatek then won the next seven games in a row as she took the first set before storming through the second, converting match point on her second attempt.
Swiatek is seeking a fourth title in five years in Rome and will face Danielle Collins in the last 32.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka rallied from an early setback to beat lucky loser Viktorija Golubic in three sets.
The 27-year-old had been due to play Paula Badosa, but she had to drop out with a back injury, and Osaka beat Golubic 2-6 7-5 6-1 in one hour and 45 minutes.
Osaka made a slow start, dropping her serve twice in the opening set, and though she held off Golubic on her first two set-point attempts, she could not hold on for a third.
Despite a better start to the second half, she slipped again, falling to a 5-4 defeat. However, a break of serve in the next game started an eight-game winning streak, putting her in control.
She has now won each of her last seven matches on clay following her win at Saint-Malo last week. Next up for her is Beatriz Haddad Maia or Marie Bouzkova.
Data Debrief: Swiatek sends out statement
Swiatek may be struggling to reach showpiece matches바카라 웹사이트in 2025, but she has made a strong start at the Italian Open.
Since the Tier I format's introduction in 1990, only Martina Hingis (40), Monica Seles (29), and Lindsay Davenport (28) have won their opening match for more consecutive Tier I/WTA-1000 than Swiatek (27).
She is also바카라 웹사이트the player with the longest streak of completed matches won in straight sets at the Italian Open in the Open Era (now 18).
This was her바카라 웹사이트ninth 6-0 set in Rome, and Swiatek's바카라 웹사이트33rd bagel in WTA 1000 events overall, equalling Victoria Azarenka's record for the most ever.