Swiatek beats Sabalenka to win 3rd Italian Open title

Poland's Iga Swiatek beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka to win the Italian Open title on Saturday, which made Swiatek the third player to win in both Madrid and Rome in the same season, after Russian Dinara Safina in 2009 and American Serena Williams in 2013.

Swiatek took the match in less than 90 minutes 6-2, 6-3 to lift her total career title wins to 21 as world No.1 and maintain her hot streak ahead of the French Open, where she has won three of her four Grand Slams. She also improved her head-to-head record against the world No. 2 to 8-3, having conceded only one clay court loss to the Belarusian last year in Madrid. 

"I kind of knew that if I'm going to work hard and if I'm going to be in the right mindset, this is achievable," Swiatek said post-match. "I'm happy I was so focused and disciplined throughout the tournament to do that."

Swiatek broke first at love to lead 2-1 and again in the seventh game in the opener, while Sabalenka committed 12 unforced errors that cost her an edge in her first Rome final. 

Sabalenka came out strong in the second set to force five break points and hit 11 winners in the first two games, but failed to take a 2-0 lead when Swiatek, who leads this year's saving of break points on tour, held her nerve to level 1-1. Sabalenka never broke again before she hit a return into the net that handed the Pole her third title in Rome in four years. 

"After Madrid I knew it wasn't going to be easy," said Swiatek who had to save five match points in a marathon Madrid final against Sabalenka two weeks ago. "I'm really happy that I was able to play consistently during the clay season."

"Congrats on an incredible two weeks in Rome. I hope we make it to the final at Roland Garros and I'm going to beat you there! Just kidding, but I want to do better than today," said Sabalenka post-match.