Iga eases into last-16 in Rome, Karolina is ousted
ROME: Champion Iga Swiatek breezed past Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse with a 6-3 6-0 victory to move into the Italian Open last-16, while Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann ended Karolina Pliskova’s run of reaching three successive Rome finals with 6-2 4-6 6-4 win on Wednesday.
World No. 1 Swiatek, who was given a bye into the second round, extended her winning run to 24 matches after converting seven break points to wrap up the match in just 68 minutes.
The Pole, who returned after skipping the Madrid Open due to a shoulder injury, has fond memories of Rome — where she won her first WTA 1000 crown — and is looking to add to this year’s titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart.
“I’m pretty proud that I could get into the rhythm today, just take some lessons during the match and improve my game, game by game. That was a pretty solid match for me,” said Swiatek.
The top seed next faces former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who cruised past Colombia’s Camila Osorio 6-2 6-4.
“I’ve never even had a chance to play a practice with her on clay, so I’m not sure how the game is going to look like,” Swiatek said of Azarenka.
“For sure, tactically, we need to prepare today because she’s such an experienced player...
“You have to be ready for facing a lot of variety in her game.”
Pliskova has enjoyed considerable success at the tournament, winning the title in 2019, before finishing runner-up to Simona Halep and Swiatek over the past two years.
But her 2022 run ended prematurely after she failed to come to grips with Teichmann’s power and guile.
Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who became the first African player to win a WTA 1000 title in Madrid over the weekend, also moved to the next round on Wednesday after beating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5 6-2.
“It’s never easy to play Ajla. I knew it was going to be a physical match,” said Jabeur.
“In Rome, I think for now I’m enjoying. I got used to titles very quick. So... making it to the final will be such a great result for me.”
Jabeur will next face Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, who knocked out eighth seed Garbine Muguruza in a hard-fought 3-6 76(4) 6-1 victory.
Croatia’s Petra Martic knocked out fifth seed Anett Kontaveit with a 6-2 6-3 victory, while 18year-old Coco Gauff beat fellow American Madison Brengle 6-2 64. Seventh seed Danielle Collins overpowered Halep 7-6 (1) 6-3.