Iga Świątek delivered a masterful performance on Monday, clinching her spot in the quarterfinals of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Rome. The Polish tennis player exhibited a remarkable blend of resilience and skill as she overcame former world No. 1, Angelique Kerber, in a gripping encounter.
The tension was palpable as the first set neared its conclusion. With the score delicately poised at 4:3, Świątek unleashed a precision backhand shot during Kerber’s service game, momentarily disarming her opponent. However, Kerber swiftly retaliated, breaking back to restore parity. Despite holding five set points, Świątek encountered difficulty in converting them, fueling speculation of an impending tie-break. Yet, just in time, she managed to seize a crucial break at 7:5.
The commencement of the second set witnessed Świątek grappling with nerves, conceding the initial two games to Kerber. Nevertheless, the Pole swiftly regathered her composure, elevating her attacking prowess. As Świątek’s form surged, Kerber’s resistance gradually diminished. Although Kerber salvaged one more game at 3:3, the remainder of the match unfolded in favour of the reigning WTA leader.
Świątek’s next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against Madison Keys, who earlier dispatched Sorana Cirstea of Romania with a commanding scoreline of 6:2, 6:1.
2021 ✅ 2022 ✅ 2023 ✅ 2024 ✅@iga_swiatek defeats Kerber to reach the Rome quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive season!
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2024
Next faces Keys in a rematch from last week's Madrid semi. pic.twitter.com/1JXyD9Tz1u
Iga Świątek – Angelique Kerber 2-0 (7-5, 6-3)