'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Iga Swiatek was in scintillating form during the Italian Open final on Saturday (May 18), beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 to clinch her fourth WTA title in 2024. Following the win, the Pole left everyone at the Foro Italico in splits with a hilarious demand.
Swiatek showed a level far superior to the rest of the field in Rome this fortnight. The World No. 1 didn't drop a single set in her six wins, before coming up trumps against Sabalenka in a rematch of their Madrid Open final earlier this month.
Iga Swiatek was visibly in high spirits after recording her third-career title victory at the Italian Open. She ended her winner's speech by thanking the local crowd, before suggesting to the tournament organizers that they should surprise her with tiramisu inside the trophy cup the next time she triumphs in Rome.
Trending
"Thank you guys, hopefully if I win next time, there's gonna be a tiramisu here. I'm still waiting," Swiatek remarked tongue-in-cheek.
For those unaware, Swiatek's inclination towards tiramisu, an Italian dessert, goes way back. The 22-year-old was at the end of a unique gesture from the US Open organizers when she won the 2023 title at Flushing Meadows; they hid a tiramisu inside the championship trophy, which the Pole only discovered during her post-final press conference.
The newly-crowned champion looked floored by the surprise as she admired her gift.
"Wow, who did that?! Thank you guys! That's so nice. I really appreciate it, thank you," Swiatek said during the interview.
Iga Swiatek also asked for tiramisu after Madrid Open final: "I'll trade it for six tiramisus or something"
Iga Swiatek's exploits during this year's European claycourt swing warrant a tiramisu or two. The World No. 1 has won the WTA titles at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, and she also finished runner-up at the 500-level event in Stuttgart.
Swiatek needed more than three hours to outlast her rival Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid final, coming out on top of the championship match by a scoreline of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7).
She would sit down for a candid talk with the WTA Insider the following day, where she jokingly demanded either "two months of vacation" or six tiramisus for her herculean effort during the title clash at the Caja Magica.
"I feel, like, after such a match, I deserve at least two months of vacation," Swiatek said on the WTA Insider podcast (at 8:13). "I can't have that, I'll trade it for six tiramisus or something."
