Swiatek crushes Australian Open champ Sabalenka, clinches third Rome title

Iga Swiatek claimed her third Rome Open title on Saturday by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

World number one Swiatek decisively overcame the second-ranked Sabalenka in the last major tournament before defending her French Open title.

Playing in front of a packed center court, Swiatek secured her 36th victory of the year. She became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win both Madrid and Rome in the same season.

Swiatek, who previously defeated Sabalenka in the Madrid final, will enter Roland Garros as the strong favorite to win her fourth title and third consecutive at the French Open.

The Polish star extended her winning record against Sabalenka to 8-3 with another impressive performance in a tournament where she didn’t lose a single set on her way to the championship.

Saturday’s final was less dramatic than the three-set battle in Madrid, as Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion, found herself with too much ground to cover.

Swiatek clinched the first set in just 36 minutes with a dominant display. Despite Sabalenka’s desire to win in Rome, she failed to convert seven break points over two games in the second set.

After breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the seventh game of the second set, Swiatek smoothly closed out the match and secured the championship.