Defending champion Iga Swiatek made a dominant return to the Italian Open, easily advancing to the third round with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Italian wildcard Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Swiatek needed just 52 minutes to seal the win, winning 28 of 35 service points and never facing a break point. The Polish world number two is aiming for her fourth title in five years in Rome, having won 18 of her last 19 matches at the tournament, with the only exception being her retirement in the 2023 quarter-finals against Elena Rybakina.
Swiatek will next face Danielle Collins, who beat Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-3 in the second round. Although Swiatek has reached at least the quarter-finals in her last eight tournaments, she is still looking for her first title of the season ahead of the French Open later this month.
In other action, Japan’s Naomi Osaka continued her strong run on clay with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic. Osaka, who had previously struggled on clay, has now won seven consecutive matches on the surface, including her first clay-court title at last week’s L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, will play either Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia or Czech Marie Bouzkova next.
Italian player Jasmine Paolini also reached the third round with a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 win over New Zealander Lulu Sun. Paolini, the sixth seed, will face Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who advanced via walkover after Czech Petra Kvitova withdrew due to injury.
The French Open is set to begin at Roland Garros on May 25.
