Swiatek wins Rome title in a flash

Final in Rome.

2021 Internazionali BNL d'Italia - a WTA 1000 tournament, on Clay, in Rome, Italy, 10-17 May 2021.

Event held last year from 14-21 September 2020 due to COVID-19.

Defending champion:

Simona Halep (1) who defeated Karolina Pliskova (2) 6-0 2-1 (retired)

Final:

Iga Swiatek (15) (Poland) v Karolina Pliskova (9) (Czech Republic)

Although the pair had played in an exhibition tournament in the Czech Republic last year, this was the first official meeting, and it took just 45 minutes for Iga Swiatek, the reigning Roland Garros champion, to thrash Karolina Pliskova 6-0 6-0.

17 winners and just 5 unforced errors highlighted a performance which should send an alarming message to any player with hopes of doing well at Roland Garros in a fortnight. Avoid Swiatek in the draw.

This is the second WTA title for Swiatek since she broke through at the highest level in Paris last October. It adds to her success in Adelaide earlier in 2021.

She now moves up five spots to #10 in the rankings, a career high, and up seven spots to #5 in the 2021 WTA Race.