World number one Iga Swiatek owned her Italian Open title

World number one Iga Swiatek owned her Italian Open title.

Iga Swiatek, the world number one, regained her Italian Open championship on Sunday in Rome, defeating Ons Jabeur 6-2 6-2 to win her fifth straight WTA title and 28th match in a row.

Swiatek has already won every WTA 1000 event she has competed in this season, including Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami, and will be the favorite to add to her 2020 French Open victory when the Grand Slam competition starts next week.

Swiatek outmaneuvered Jabeur, ending the Tunisian’s 11-match winning streak, which started with her championship run in Madrid, and bringing their head-to-head record to 2-2 after they lost both of their 2021 matches at Wimbledon and Cincinnati.

“Today, I’m going to celebrate with a lot of tiramisu, no regrets,” Swiatek, of Poland said after collapsing on the red clay at Foro Italico and breaking down in tears.

“I was just relieved… I was simply overjoyed that I could handle all of the pressure and expectations so well, “Later, she told reporters.

“I have emotional emotions, but this one was definitely the most dramatic after winning the championship.

“Why not, right? It’s been a tense and stressful week. Finally, letting go (after that) is OK with me.”

In the earlier stages of their maiden clay encounter, Swiatek was scarcely disturbed by world number seven Jabeur, effortlessly holding her serve to surge to a commanding 3-0 lead.

At 4-2, Jabeur put the 20-year-old Swiatek to the test, digging herself out of a 0-30 hole to hold from a deuce and win the game before sealing up the set on her second set point when the Tunisian smacked a forehand into the net.

The second set began similarly, with Jabeur’s power and movement from the baseline proving no match for Swiatek’s as the Pole strolled to a 4-0 lead.

Jabeur won the following two games and seemed to be on her way to a third.

Still, Swiatek held from a 40-point deficit, saving four break opportunities and closing out the game on her first serve before the Tunisian’s resilience was broken by a backhand into the net.

“Iga, she was psychologically strong. She was usually combative, “Jabeur said. “Always move ahead, putting pressure on the opposing player, regardless of the score. That, I believe, is critical.