After the last-minute forfeit for the WTA 1000 in Madrid due to physical problems, Iga Swiatek is preparing again to play the role of the protagonist at the Italian Open 2022, where she is the reigning champion.
The number 1 in the world already comes from a triumph on clay-courts, that of Stuttgart scored last April 24th against Aryna Sabalenka, and she therefore arrives full of expectations at the stage tournament in Rome.
The journey in the capital got off to a great start for the young tennis player from Warsaw, who in her first round match demolished the Romanian Elena Gabriela RuseĀ then she won against Victoria Azarenka and Bianca Andreescu.
Therefore, playing a high-level tournament becomes of priority importance for Iga Swiatek also and above all in view of the illustrious appointment with the Roland Garros. Former ATP number 1 Jim Courier reflected on the possibilities of the Pole at the French Open, also providing a comparison with Rafael Nadal, absolute ruler in Paris.
Jim Courier: “Iga Swiatek will be favorite for years at Roland Garros”
Courier said: “She is the dominant favorite. he is what Nadal has been for many years. There is always turbulence in the women’s draw. Always expect the unexpected.”
After giving up the WTA 1000 in Madrid to take a breather and recover from some ailment, the number 1 in the world Iga Swiatek, is ready to amaze everyone in Rome with a single and clear goal: to win again.
The Polish tennis player, defending champion at the Foro Italico, started 2022 by winning three 1000 category tournaments in as many participations (Doha, Indian Wells and Miami), in addition to the WTA 500 in Stuttgart.
In the quarters of Rome 2022, Iga needs an hour and forty-five minutes to get the better of the former Slam champion Bianca Andreescu, who holds up a set and tries to put Iga in difficulty.
Good start for the 20-year-old who immediately goes to 2-0, but Bianca shows old flashes of the champion we knew and reacts with two consecutive breaks and puts the number one in the world in great difficulty.
The number one does not give up and gets to serve for the set at 5-3, she loses her service again and flies to the tie-break. Here Swiatek dominates with a series of class points and not feeling the moment, closing the set.
The second set is a real formality with the Canadian making a few 15 and Swiatek trimming her a net 6-0.