Swiatek extends winning streak to 24 while Gauff reaches last 16 in Rome

The wins keep coming for Swiatek, who will now aim to make it 25 in a row against former world No 1 Azarenka on Thursday in Rome

Iga Swiatek at the Internazionali BNL D Italia in Rome Image Credit: Imago / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

May 12, 2022

WTA Rome 1000 | Draws | Schedule

World No 1 Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 24 matches on Wednesday with a comfortable straight sets win over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The Pole has won the last four tournaments she has played and was returning to competeition after a two-week break on the tour.

However, she showed few signs of rustiness as she dominated Ruse 6-3, 6-0 to win in one hour and eight minutes and advance to the round of 16.

iga gonna iga (win matches as fast as possible 🙃)

That's 24 STRAIGHT MATCH WINS for 🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek!#IBI22 pic.twitter.com/YMK7Cmj0F9
— wta (@WTA) May 11, 2022

The win sets up an exciting third round clash against former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka, the No 16 seed. The Belarusian scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio in one hour and 28 minutes.

Swiatek and Azarenka have split their two career meetings, with the Belarusian winning their third-round clash at the 2020 US Open in straight sets while Swiatek avenged that loss with a three-set win in Adelaide in January this year.

Gauff joins Swiatek in the round of 16 in Rome

Coco Gauff at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

Earlier on Wednesday, American teen Coco Gauff also booked her spot in the round of 16 at the Italian Open with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Madison Brengle. The match was another impressive win for Gauff, who ousted former world No 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the first round.

Gauff will next meet Greece’s Maria Sakkari, who defeated Madrid semi-finalist Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2.

Sakkari holds a 3-1 edge in their head-to-head, including a win in the Doha quarter-finals earlier this year. But Gauff, ranked a career-high No 15 currently, has won their only encounter on clay, which came at this very tournament 12 months ago.