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Iga Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Italian Open final to win her 10th WTA 1000 title. She tied Victoria Azarenka for the most WTA 1000 titles won by an active player with her emphatic win in Rome.
Swiatek was in extraordinary form coming into the Italian Open final. She had not dropped a set throughout the tournament. She defeated the likes of Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, and Angelique Kerber on her way to the final.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka dropped two sets on her way to the final and got the better of Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko among others.
World No. 1 Swiatek and World No. 2 Sabalenka last faced each other two weeks ago in the Madrid Open final. They are the first WTA Top-2 to face each other twice in two weeks since 2000.
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In Madrid, their final lasted over three hours and Swiatek saved three championship points to triumph. In Rome, on May 18, the Pole made quick work of the Belarusian. Swiatek defeated Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 29 minutes.
The 22-year-old Pole started strongly and earned a break at love for 2-1 in the first set and continued her dominance to win the set. Sabalenka opened the second set better and was on the verge of breaking to 2-0 but Swiatek saved five break points to make it 1-1.
The Pole took the lead for good at 4-3 and went on to win her third Italian Open title.
This is Swiatek's 10th WTA 1000 title which ties her for the most WTA 1000 titles won by an active player alongside Victoria Azarenka. Second in line are Venus Williams, Simona Halep, and Petra Kvitova (9). The record for the most WTA 1000 titles won is held by Serena Williams (23).
Iga Swiatek's Italian Open triumph is her 21st career WTA singles title
The 2024 Italian Open win is the 21st career WTA singles title for Iga Swiatek. This is also her fourth title this year. Swiatek, who will turn 23 on 31 May, 2024, is the second woman to win three or more Italian Open titles before turning 23 in the Open Era (since 1969).
Further, she is only the third woman to win the Italian Open and the Madrid Open in the same year after Dinara Safina in 2009 and Serena Williams in 2013.
When it comes to head-to-head record with Sabalenka, the Pole has widened her gap to 8 wins out of 11. This was the fifth time the pair faced in a final and Iga Swiatek bagged her fourth win with Aryna Sabalenka's lone win coming last year in Madrid.
