Riding a 12-match win streak, Iga Swiatek is certainly ready to make a bid for her fourth Roland Garros title. The WTA world No. 1 proved this without a doubt in Rome and Madrid, by capturing both WTA 1000 trophies.
Before we get into the details of what's happened in Madrid and Rome, here are the final results from the clay-court swing heading into Roland Garros.
April 1-7
WTA 500 Charleston: Danielle Collins def. Daria Kastakina, 6-2, 6-1
WTA 250 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano def. Marie Bouzkova, 6-3, 7-6(5)
April 15-21
WTA 250 Rouen: Sloane Stephens def. Magda linette, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
WTA 500 Stuttgart: Elena Rybakina def. Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2
April 23-May 5
WTA 1000 Madrid: Iga Swiatek def. Aryna Sabalenka, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7)
May 7-19
WTA 1000 Rome: Iga Swiatek def. Aryna Sabalenka, 6 -2, 6-3
Swiatek Dominates on Clay
In both events, it was world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka who had to settle for the runner-up position. This past weekend, Swiatek ousted Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the Rome final for her third title in the Italian capital. It was a more straightforward victory than what occurred a fortnight prior – a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) triumph over Sabalenka in Madrid. Swiatek (UTR Rating 13.28) has now won four titles in 2024, all at WTA 1000 events – Rome, Madrid, Indian Wells, and Doha.
At age 22, she owns 21 total titles. To add to the accolades, she is just the third player to take the Rome-Madrid double after Dinara Safina in 2009 and Serena Williams in 2013.
Sabalenka Challenges Swiatek
Though Swiatek handled Sabalenka (UTR 12.92) in both final, the rivalry between the top two players in the world is heating up. “After Madrid, I knew it was not going to be easy,” Swiatek said in Rome, referencing their three-set thriller two weeks earlier. “Thanks for sharing the court with me and pushing me to get better.” For her part, Sabalenka has now competed in four finals this year, with the highlight being winning her second consecutive Australian Open.
Gauff, Rybakina In Fine Form
Not to be lost in the shuffle, 2022 Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff (UTR 12.83) and No. 4 Elena Rybakina (UTR 12.96) also put up strong results at the two premiere clay tournaments, highlighting their strong prospects at going deep at the French Open. After falling in the round of 16 in Madrid, Gauff was a semifinalist in Rome, stopped 6-4, 6-3 by Swiatek.
Meanwhile, Rybakina made the final four in Madrid, only losing to Sabalenka in a third-set tiebreaker – 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). Unfortunately, she was unable to compete in Rome due to illness.
Collins Still Flying High
Also featuring in the Rome semifinals was Danielle Collins, who is continuing her incredible form in 2024. This year’s Miami and Charleston champion dropped a 7-5, 6-2 decision to Sabalenka (whom she also lost to in the Madrid fourth round). Her Rome result bumped from her WTA world No. 15 to No. 12. More clear evidence of how Collins has been playing some of the best tennis of anybody on the circuit recently is her UTR Rating, which is fourth-highest in the world at 12.88. Then there was Madrid semifinalist Madison Keys (UTR 12.62), securing the top result of her shortened 2024 season so far, which began at Indian Wells. The American, whose year was delayed due to a shoulder injury, was actually halted by the Swiatek train in both Madrid and Rome – in the Spanish semifinals and Italian quarterfinals.
Doubles Roundup
In doubles, Italian pair Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini captured the crown in Rome by besting Gauff and Erin Routliffe in Rome with a match tiebreaker victory 6-3, 4-6, 10-8. The Madrid title was also won by a homegrown team, as Spanish duo Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo won 6-0, 6-2 over Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund.
And now, with Roland Garros just around the corner (the main draw starts on Sunday), it is clear the very best players in the world are ready to battle for the second Slam of the season.