In a remarkable display of dominance, Iga Swiatek, the two-time defending champion in Rome, demonstrated her prowess by swiftly dispatching Lesia Tsurenko with a resounding 6-2, 6-0 victory in the third round of the women’s tournament.
Initially dropping the first two games of the match, the Polish world No. 1 quickly turned the tables and embarked on an extraordinary winning streak, claiming the next 12 consecutive games.
Swiatek’s triumph not only extended her winning streak in Rome to an impressive 13 matches but also showcased her ominous form, highlighted by her previous 6-0, 6-0 demolition of former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round.
As she progresses to the fourth round, Swiatek now sets her sights on facing either Liudmila Samsonova or 21st seed Donna Vekic.
On another court, sixth seed Coco Gauff suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Marie Bouzkova. Bouzkova orchestrated an impressive comeback, rallying to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over the American teenager.
Gauff’s exit from the tournament serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis, where underdogs can rise to the occasion and seize victory. Meanwhile, former Paris runner-up Marketa Vondrousova continued her impressive run in Rome by eliminating Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari with a solid 7-5, 6-3 performance.
Vondrousova’s impressive form sets the stage for her upcoming round of 16 clash against either Elena Rybakina or Anna Kalinskaya, providing her with another opportunity to extend her giant-killing spree. Additionally, Madison Keys advanced to the fourth round as a result of Victoria Azarenka’s unfortunate withdrawal due to a right leg injury, granting Keys a well-deserved progression in the tournament.
