Swiatek Kicks Off Italian Open with Rapid Start
Rewritten Article:
Tennis Titan Swiatek Dominates in Italy, Eyes French Open
Iga Swiatek, the number-two ranked tennis player, set foot in Italy following a disheartening straight-sets defeat to Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open semis. But the 23-year-old Polish powerhouse put on a show against Italian Cocciaretto, triumphing 6-1, 6-0 and sailing into a third-round face-off with American Danielle Collins.
"The ball seemed to be my dancing partner today, giving me complete control over the game. Such matches feel incredibly comfortable," Swiatek beamed, reminding us that winning isn't always about luck but consistent hard work.
Swiatek has a history of dominance on the Italian clay courts, having claimed three Italian Open titles. Her current mission is to leverage her clay-court strategy to defend her French Open title. Despite her triumphs, Swiatek is yet to snatch a single trophy in the 2025 season.
In another second-round encounter, former world number one, Naomi Osaka, clawed back from a deficit to dispense of lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Home-crowd favorite Jasmine Paolini secured a 6-4, 6-3 win against Lulu Sun of New Zealand. She's slated to face Ons Jabeur in round three, with the Tunisian having clinched a walkover against Petra Kvitova.
American third seed, Jessica Pegula, had an effortless march into the third round, vanquishing compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-2. She's set to square off against Elise Mertens, who triumphed over Suzan Lamens in three sets.
Madison Keys, the 2023 Australian Open champion, advanced after a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory against France's Varvara Gracheva.
Former Madrid Open semi-finalist Elina Svitolina started her campaign on a high note, defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).
Men's world number one, Jannik Sinner, is set to resume his competition following a three-month doping ban. He'll battle Mariano Navone on Saturday, following Navone's victory over Federico Cina 6-3, 6-3.
In the men's draw, Hungarian Fabian Marozsan handed up-and-coming Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca his second consecutive early exit on the European clay courts.
Since claiming his first Tour-level title in Buenos Aires earlier this year, Fonseca, only 18, has struggled to make an impact on the red dirt. Early exits at the Madrid Open and the Estoril challenger event demonstrate the challenges of adapting to different surfaces.
Italian maverick Fabio Fognini bid adieu to his hometown Masters event, succumbing to Briton Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-3. Fognini, 37, acknowledged his time in the spotlight is dwindling.
© 2025 AFP
Enrichment Data:- Overall: Here's a quick recap of Iga Swiatek's journey in the 2023 Italian Open: - First Round: In her title defense bid, Swiatek won a dominating match against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-1, 6-0), marking her 18th consecutive winning set at the Foro Italico[2][3]. - Next Match: After her victory against Cocciaretto, Swiatek is scheduled to play American Danielle Collins in the third round[2].- Quotes: - On Performance: Evoking a feeling of serenity over her control of the match, Swiatek commented, "It felt like the ball was listening to me, and I had full command of the game, which is always comfy." - On Balancing Personal and Public Life: Swiatek admitted to grappling with the challenges of managing her privacy and public image, particularly with the paparazzi and fans. She indicated her desire for peace and quiet away from the cameras. - On Privacy: Swiatek stressed her commitment to maintaining her privacy, particularly regarding personal preferences such as favorite restaurants in Rome, to avoid drawing too much attention.
- Iga Swiatek, the number-two ranked tennis player, set her sights on the French Open after dominating a tournament in Italy.
- Swiatek's victory against Cocciaretto in the Italian Open marked her 18th consecutive winning set at the Foro Italico.
- In the third round, Swiatek is scheduled to play American Danielle Collins.
- Swiatek expressed a sense of comfort during her match, stating that the ball seemed to be her dancing partner, giving her complete control over the game.
