Iga Swiatek hammers Aryna Sabalenka to extend win streak and reach Rome Open final where she will play Ons Jabeur
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Updated 14/05/2022 at 20:50 GMT
Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 27 matches by thrashing Aryna Sabalenka, reaching the Italian Open final. The world number one was in unstoppable form in Rome, punishing every second serve from Sabalenka on her way to a rapid victory. Swiatek will play Ons Jabeur in the final who beat Daria Kasatkina later on Saturday.
Iga Swiatek
Image credit: Getty Images
Defending champion Iga Swiatek thrashed Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final of the Italian Open in Rome.
Swiatek was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open with a shoulder injury in April but the world No. 1 was at her very best against her Belarussian opponent on Saturday.
"At these tournaments where we play day after day, we don't really get time to celebrate," Swiatek said after the match.
"Right after we finish the previous match, we have to think about the next one. It's pretty tough. But I know that after I'm going to be really proud of myself. For sure I'm going to have time to think about what I did.
"But, yeah, I mean, I'm just constantly surprising myself that I can do better and better.
"I feel like I actually can believe now that the sky's the limit. That's the fun part, for sure."
The Pole was unbeatable from the baseline and punished Sabalenka's second serve with a series of lethal forehand winners.
Sabalenka saved a match point at 5-1 down, but Swiatek grabbed a fourth break of serve to take the match.
She extends her winning streak to 27 matches.
SWIATEK TO PLAY JABEUR IN FINAL
Swiatek will face Ons Jabeur the final, who beat Daria Kasatkina 4-6 6-1 7-5 later on Saturday.
It's 11 straight match wins for Jabeur, who won the Madrid Open last week, and her 17th clay-court win in 2022 after overcoming the Russian in one hour and 56 minutes.
"It was a tough one for me not being 100 per cent there, so I am pretty glad that I got the win and into the final again," Jabeur said afterwards.
"I am exhausted, yes, but it is part of my job. It is going to help me push more tomorrow. There is only one match left."
The match began in topsy-turvy fashion with neither player able to get into a rhythm. Both players twice broke each other's serve in the opening five games.
Kasatkina was trying to be more aggressive from the baseline than in previous matches this week, but Jabeur got what proved to be the decisive break in the ninth game, moving into a 5-4 lead after a producing a vicious cross-court winner.
Jabeur had to save two break points, but she recovered and converted her first set point when Kasatkina ripped a forehand return wide.
Going down a set did not deter Kasatkina's confidence as she broke Jabeur's serve in the second game. The Russian pounced on a poor dropshot from Jabeur to move into a 2-0 lead.
Kasatkina continued to play aggressively as unforced errors crept into Jabeur's game. Jabeur was visibly frustrated with herself and she went a double break down in the sixth game, before the Russian wrapped up the 24-minute set on serve.
Jabeur looked to be conserving her energy towards the end of the second set. Kasatkina produced a strong hold of serve in the second game of the decider as Jabeur allowed two break points to pass her by.
A vicious winner from Jabeur sealed what looked to be the decisive break to move into a 4-2 lead, but Kasatkina broke back immediately to get back on serve.
Jabeur's failure to put away a straightforward smash handed Kasatkina a break point at 4-4 and the Russian took it with a backhand volley winner.
But in the very next game, Jabeur saved a match point and broke back with a deft dropshot. Jabeur then won the match on Kasatkina's serve thanks to another signature dropshot.
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