Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, defeating Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the Italian Open semifinals. The world number three, a three-time champion in Rome, needed just over an hour to dispatch the fifth seed on center court, showcasing the kind of dominant clay-court tennis that marked her 2022 French Open triumph.
Swiatek's Resurgence on Clay
Swiatek's victory marks her first clay-court semifinal since winning her fourth Roland Garros title two years ago. The Polish star expressed satisfaction with her form. "I feel much better," Swiatek said. "I have a lot of confidence in my shots. I used that from the beginning of the match and kept putting pressure on Jessie. I'm really happy with how I played."
Swiatek will face either second seed Elena Rybakina or Elina Svitolina in the semifinals. A potential final against reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff looms on Saturday.
Raducanu Set for Strasbourg Comeback
In other tennis news, Emma Raducanu is set to return at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, starting Saturday. The British number one has been sidelined since March due to a post-viral illness that first struck in February, causing her to withdraw from four consecutive events. Raducanu practiced in Rome but decided she was not ready to compete there.
By accepting a wild card into Strasbourg, the 23-year-old will gain valuable clay-court preparation ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 24.
