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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Iga Swiatek vs (2) Aryna Sabalenka
Date: May 18, 2024
Tournament: Italian Open 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Clay
Prize money: $5,509,771
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN2
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka preview
Top seed Iga Swiatek will square off against World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the 2024 Italian Open on Saturday, May 18.
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Swiatek commenced her quest for a third title in Rome with wins over Bernarda Pera, Yulia Putintseva, Angelique Kerber, and Madison Keys to reach the semifinals. She took on World No. 3 Coco Gauff for a spot in the summit clash.
Swiatek stumbled right off the bat as she fell behind 2-0 in the opening set. She regrouped quickly to get back on serve and then snagged a break towards the end of the set to claim it.
Swiatek took control of the proceedings in the second set and broke Gauff's serve twice to register a 6-4, 6-3 win, her 10th over the American as well. She has now reached her 25th career final and her 12th at the WTA 1000 level.
Sabalenka knocked out Katie Volynets, Dayana Yastremska, Elina Svitolina, and Jelena Ostapenko to make the last eight, where she faced Danielle Collins. The Belarusian blew a 4-1 lead in the first set as her opponent clawed her way back to make it 5-5.
Sabalenka then bagged the next couple of games to capture the set. She was easily the better player in the second set and broke Collins' serve twice in it for a 7-5, 6-2 win. She advanced to her eighth WTA 1000 final and the 28th of her career.
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka head-to-head
Swiatek leads Sabalenka 7-3 in the head-to-head. The Pole won their previous encounter at the 2024 Madrid Open in three sets.
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka prediction
The tour's two best players are set to fight it out for another title once again. They played an entertaining match just a couple of weeks ago in Madrid, with Swiatek saving three championship points in the final to triumph over Sabalenka.
Swiatek is a two-time champion in Rome and is the tour's most dominant player on clay. Sabalenka went through a lull following her victory at the Australian Open but has rediscovered her form during the clay swing.
Sabalenka looked a little rusty at the start of the tournament. However, she has been a different player since saving three match points against Svitolina in the fourth round. While she hasn't strayed too far from her power-packed game, she has utilized the drop shot to great effect in Rome.
Swiatek has an impressive 20-4 record in finals, though Sabalenka is one of three players to defeat her in a championship clash. Barbora Krejcikova is the only player to beat the Pole twice in the finals.
Swiatek has amassed a 75-10 record on clay following her run to the final in Rome. She's aiming to be the first player since Serena Williams in 2013 to do the Madrid-Rome double. Given her level on clay, it wouldn't be surprising to see her script more history.
Pick: Iga Swiatek to win in straight sets.
