Clean and Mean: Ruthless Swiatek Finds Her Groove Against Cocciaretto

When Elisabetta Cocciaretto launched a service winner out wide to hold serve for 1-3 in the first set against Iga Swiatek on Sunday in Rome, it appeared that she might be getting into the match.

Instead, it was the beginning of the end.

Playing with clarity and aggression, three-time Rome champion Swiatek reeled off the next nine games to claim a 6-1, 6-0 win and book a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka.

“I just wanted to be solid and focus on myself, no matter what the score was,” Swiatek said. “I really liked how I played today – my serve was good and I was opening up the court.”

Swiatek needed just 65 minutes to wrap up her 23rd match victory in Rome against just three losses. She is into the round of 16 for the fifth time.

She will face Naomi Osaka next in Rome. The pair last met at Roland-Garros in 2024, with Osaka holding a match point before falling in an epic first-round encounter. Swiatek has won two of three overall against the Japanese star, including her last two matches against the four-time Grand Slam champion.

“We played a lot,” Swiatek said. “I know what she can bring and how well she can play when she feels the ball – I’ll be ready.”

Swiatek hit 17 winners to just five for Cocciaretto in a match whose scoreline was a carbon copy of last year’s second-round meeting in Rome. Swiatek won 62 percent of her return points and saved all three break points she faced.

The Italian tried desperately to get a game in the second set, and earned three break points as Swiatek served at 5-0, but the Pole saved them all and finished off the match.

Swiatek has now won 10 bagel sets at Rome. According to Opta Sports, only three players – Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Gabriela Sabatini have won more.