In a display of sheer dominance, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek stormed back into the spotlight at the 2025 WTA Rome Open, obliterating Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0 in a mere 52 minutes on May 8, 2025. The victory, her first since a shocking 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Coco Gauff at the Madrid Open just a week prior, sent a resounding message: the queen of clay is far from finished. As the defending champion and a three-time Rome winner, Swiatek’s performance was a masterclass in precision and power, reasserting her dominance on the red dirt and setting the stage for a potential fourth title at the Foro Italico.
The match against Cocciaretto, ranked No. 61, was a one-sided affair from the outset. Swiatek, still stinging from the Madrid loss—her worst on clay since 2019—wasted no time asserting control. She broke Cocciaretto’s serve in the opening game and never looked back, winning 20 of her last 21 matches in Rome and extending her streak of 18 consecutive sets won in the tournament. Her relentless pressure, a hallmark of her game, was on full display as she unleashed 14 winners and committed just eight unforced errors, compared to Cocciaretto’s 22. “I was just trying to be myself, focus on the work,” Swiatek said in 2024, reflecting on her approach to Rome, a mindset she clearly carried into this match. The result was a “bagel” in the second set, a nod to her nickname, the “Iga’s Bakery,” where she serves up shutouts with ruthless efficiency.
Swiatek’s triumph was all the more significant given the context of her recent struggles. The Madrid defeat to Gauff marked a rare low point for the 23-year-old Pole, who admitted, “I couldn’t really get my level up. I didn’t move well.” The loss, which saw her win just two games, was a stark contrast to her usual clay-court supremacy, where she boasts a .700 win rate against Top 10 opponents, second only to Steffi Graf in the last 35 years. Critics speculated whether the pressure of defending her No. 1 ranking, coupled with off-court challenges, had begun to take a toll. Yet, in Rome, Swiatek silenced those doubts with a performance that showcased her peerless footwork, heavy topspin forehand, and tactical brilliance.
For Cocciaretto, playing in front of her home crowd, the match was a harsh lesson against one of the game’s all-time greats on clay. The 24-year-old Italian, known for her gritty baseline game, had no answer for Swiatek’s onslaught. Despite the partisan support at the Grand Stand Arena, Cocciaretto managed only one game, a fleeting moment of resistance in the first set. Swiatek’s ability to neutralize her opponent’s strengths while exploiting weaknesses underscored why she’s a four-time French Open champion and the favorite to add another Roland Garros title later this month.
This victory propels Swiatek into the third round, where she’ll face either Danielle Collins or Elena-Gabriela Ruse. With seven consecutive wins in Rome and a 20-1 record in her last 21 matches at the tournament, she’s firmly in the driver’s seat. “I’m happy to be playing so consistently because it means that we’re doing everything well,” Swiatek remarked last year, a sentiment that rings true as she continues her quest for a Madrid-Rome sweep, a feat achieved by only Serena Williams and Dinara Safina in the women’s game. Her team, led by coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, has fine-tuned her game to peak at the right moment, blending aggression with the defensive mastery that makes her nearly untouchable on clay.
Beyond the numbers, Swiatek’s performance carried an emotional weight. The Madrid loss had sparked whispers of vulnerability, with some pointing to external pressures, including public scrutiny and tensions with peers. Yet, Swiatek’s response was emphatic, her focus unwavering as she dismantled Cocciaretto with surgical precision. “I’m not thinking about statistics or history,” she said in 2024, emphasizing her day-by-day approach. This mindset, coupled with her physical dominance, makes her a formidable force as the French Open looms.
As Swiatek advances, the tennis world is abuzz with anticipation. Can she reclaim her clay-court throne after the Gauff setback? Her Rome opener suggests she’s not just back—she’s better. With the crowd chanting her name and her confidence restored, Swiatek is poised to carve out another chapter in her storied career, one devastating winner at a time.
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