Easy peasy: Swiatek beats Keys to reach Rome semifinals

05/14/2024 11:33 AM

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek swiftly secured a spot in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia semifinals with a commanding straight-set victory over 18th seed Madison Keys.

The 22-year-old Swiatek, who claimed the title in Rome in 2021 and 2022, closed out the quarterfinal match with a 6-1 6-3 scoreline in just 77 minutes. Keys didn’t manage to convert any of her ten break points! This marks the second time in less than two weeks that the WTA player from Poland has defeated Keys, having also beaten her in the same fashion in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has yet to drop a set in Rome as she prepares to defend her French Open title later this month. In the next round, she will take on either third seed Coco Gauff or Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen.

Swiatek is vying to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win consecutive singles titles in Madrid and Rome in the same season.