Iga Swiatek Dominates in Italian Open After Madrid Loss

ROME, Italy — Iga Swiatek made a strong comeback from a recent defeat, defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0 in the second round of the Italian Open on Thursday.

Swiatek, who recently lost to another player in the semifinals of the Madrid Open, spoke about her personal challenges, stating, “I was dealing with personal stuff.” The second-ranked player has been a dominant force in Rome, having won the tournament three times in the past.

This year, Swiatek has struggled to reach a final on tour, but she has improved her record to 21-2 in Rome since 2021. The Italian Open is one of the final major clay-court tournaments leading up to the French Open, which begins on May 25. Swiatek has historically excelled at Roland Garros, winning four out of her five Grand Slam titles there.

Looking ahead, Swiatek will face either Maria Sakkari or a player ranked outside the top 50, who will compete later on Thursday at the Foro Italico.