Swiatek equals Serena’s streak
ROME: Not since Serena Williams seven years ago has another woman had such a hot streak.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek routed Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday to extend her winning streak to 27 matches and reach the Italian Open final. Williams won the same number of consecutive matches over 2014 and 2015.
“I’m just constantly surprising myself that I can do better and better,” Swiatek said. “I feel like I actually can believe now that the sky’s the limit.”
Aiming to defend her Rome title and win her fifth straight tournament, Swiatek dominated the eighth-ranked Sabalenka with a mix of power, consistency and finesse.
While she struggled with her serve at times, Swiatek was able to consistently crush both forehand and backhand winners on the slow, red clay court at the Foro Italico. Swiatek had the same number of winners and unforced errors, 15, while Sabalenka produced just eight winners and had a whopping 31 unforced errors.
Djokovic keeps top spot; Tsitsipas enters final
Novak Djokovic took his place in the Italian Open semi-finals with a 7-5, 7-6(1) win over Felix Auger-aliassime which guaranteed that he would remain world No. 1 for a 370th week.
By reaching the semis the Serb avoided surrendering top spot to Russian Daniil Medvedev for the second time this year.
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas moved into the final on Saturday after beating Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an entertaining last four battle.
Monte Carlo Masters champion Tsitsipas continued his dominance of two-time ATP Finals winner Zverev to reach his first ever final in the Italian capital. Saturday’s clash was the third semi-final between the pair in the space of a month after they shared the honours in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Tsitsipas came into the match having won seven of the pair’s 11 matches and a 3-1 record on clay against Zverev.