Swiatek rules Rome

Final day in Rome.

2022 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, a WTA 1000 tournament, on Clay, in Rome, Italy, 8-15 May 2022.

Defending champion:

Iga Swiatek (15) who defeated Karolina Pliskova (9) 6-0 6-0

Final:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v Ons Jabeur (9) (Tunisia)

Jabeur won the two most recent matches of the three previous meetings between the pair, both in 2021 - Wimbledon round of sixteen, and second round of Cincinnati.

Swiatek had won the first meeting - first round Washington D.C., 2019.

Swiatek came into the final on a winning streak of 27, Jabeur a winning streak of 11.

Swiatek served first and held comfortably.

Jabeur then led 40-30, but three errors, two from her backhand, gave up a break to Swiatek and a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth game, Jabeur saved two break points, the first with the help of an errant Swiatek forehand, the second with a Jabeur backhand winner.

Serving at 2-5 to stay in the set, Jabeur was at 30-30. The Tunisian netted a backhand to give the top seed a set point.

A loose backhand from Swiatek saved it. Swiatek ran down a drop shot and sent a backhand past Jabeur to provide a second set point.

Jabeur put a backhand into the net and the set was done.

Swiatek led 6-2.

Swiatek began set two holding serve, but in doing so she did face her first break point of the match. It was managed away thanks to a wide forehand from Jabeur, who in turn was broken next game.

Trouble was intensified in the fourth game where Swiatek was able to run down another Jabeur drop shot and hit a winner for 0-15.

Another unforced forehand error, then a double fault from Jabeur, presented Swiatek with two chances for a double break.

Swiatek wasted the first chance with a poor return of a second serve.

However, a loose Jabeur backhand gave Swiatek a 4-0 advantage.

Game five offered Jabeur some respite, where Swiatek contributed one backhand winner, but enough mistakes to gift two break points to her desperate opponent.

One saved with a forehand pass off a drop shot which stood up too long,

A Jabeur volley winner achieved the break and she trailed 1-4.

Serving at 4-2, Swiatek was in danger of losing her remaining break advantage when she fell behind 0-40.

Jabeur saw each of the three break points on offer disappear. One with attacking tennis finished by a winning flourish at the net.

The second with a thrilling backhand down the line. The third with an even better backhand down the line winner.

A fourth break chance was produced after a double fault, but a terrific defence finished with a delightful backhand stop volley put an end to any hope Jabeur had.

Swiatek held serve for 5-2.

Serving to stay in the match, Jabeur was ahead 30-15. Swiatek ran down a drop shot and forced the error. 30-30.

A netted Jabeur backhand and match point.

A repeat backhand into the net and the number one was home.

Iga Swiatek won 6-2 6-2 in Rome, her 28th match win in succession, and fifth title in a row.