Iga Swiatek beat fifth seed Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-2 at the Italian Open on Wednesday and moved into the semi-finals in little more than an hour. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The fourth seed controlled the claycourt match from the start, dropping only 3 games and finishing with 15 winners to Pegula's 6. Reports described Swiatek as ruthless or in strong form on clay, with one saying the performance was a sign she was moving back toward her best level. [1, 2, 4, 5]
Swiatek said before or after the match that Pegula was “always a tough opponent,” adding that the American was “super experienced” and “always calm, playing in a solid way.” She also said, “I feel much better” and “I have a lot of confidence in my shots.” [6, 4]
The win was reported as Swiatek's first against a top-10 opponent in 2026. It also came after she had recently started working with coach Francisco Roig. [4, 5]
Swiatek's next opponent will be the winner of Elena Rybakina's match against Elina Svitolina. Reports differed on whether she was chasing a fourth Rome title or was already a three-time Italian Open champion, but they agreed she remains a leading force in the event. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
