(Rome) For seven years, only Serena Williams has had such a streak in the WTA.
Posted at 9:31 a.m.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek easily defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday to extend her winning streak to 27 and reach the Italian Tennis Open final.
Williams won the same number of consecutive games in 2014 and 2015.
Seeking to defend his title in Rome and triumph at a fifth successive tournament, Swiatek dominated the world’s No. 8 runner, Sabalenka, with a mixture of strength, consistency and finesse.
Despite some trouble with her serve, Swiatek was excellent with her forehand and backhand on the clay court at Foro Italico.
The 20-year-old Pole had the same number of winners as unforced errors (15), while Sabalenka had just eight winners and 31 unforced errors.
PHOTO ALBERTO LINGRIA, REUTERS
Aryna Sabalenka
The mighty Sabalenka took a timeout late in the second set to get some back care.
Swiatek, who took the tennis world by storm by winning Roland Garros in 2020 when ranked 54and world rank, will be the favorite for the second Grand Slam tournament of the season. The French Open will begin next weekend.
But first, Swiatek will cross swords with the winner of the duel between Ons Jabeur – who has won her last 10 games – and the Russian Daria Kasatkina, Sunday, in the final of the Rome tournament.
In doubles, the pair of Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and Mexican Giuliana Olmos earned their way to the final with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lucie Hradecka and Sania Mirza.
In the final, they will face the Russians Veronika Kudermetova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The semi-finals on the men’s side will be played later on Saturday. Novak Djokovic will take on Casper Ruud while Alexander Zverev takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas.