World number one, twelve wins in a row. Back-to-back champions of the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open and the WTA 1000 in Rome, something only Russian Dinara Safina and American Serena Williams have done before. She has everything to defend at Roland Garros, where she will seek a fourth clay court queen crown from May 26 to June 9.
She suffered a lot in the Caja Mágica, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka even had the championship ball, but the Polish Iga Swiatek won the ‘great match’ that lasted more than three hours.
The same protagonists met again at the Roman Foro Italico two weeks later, and Swaitek swept as he had done throughout the tournament. Six matches went to two sets. Also the final: 6-2 and 6-3 in 1h.29′. Swiatek, 22 years old and No. 1, who surpassed Sabalenka, became 26 and No. 2. A display of hegemony on clay, like Rafa Nadal, his childhood idol and for eternity.
Swiatek’s ‘hat trick’ in Rome, where he previously dominated the 2021 and 2022 editions He returned to a track record where he was overtaken by Kazakh Elena Rybakina, this time out due to illness.
The finals must be played, but above all to win. Swiatek’s track record proves this, with 21 titles won in 26 matches. His fourth of the campaign, after Indian Wells, Doha and Madrid.
In his bank account, 699,690 euros more. In the ranking, he is more leader because he got 1,000 points in his account. Sabalenka, with a consolation prize of $365,015 and, notably, was able to compete after flirting with withdrawal due to back discomfort that reduced the physiotherapist’s work.
Swiatek, an indestructible wall. Only 8 unforced errors, compared to Sabalenka’s 28, which did not balance it with winning shots: only seven more than the winner, 18 to 11. In important moments, Iga’s stability was distributed, coming back from seven break points against in , on their first two turns of service in the second set. He held back his opponent’s reaction with determination. On earth he moves like no other.
In Madrid there is height, which helped Sabalenka, who suffered more than Swiatek at sea level.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
