Iga Swiatek defeated Caty McNally, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, in the second round of the Italian Open.
The Pole was far from her best, but held off a McNally comeback to book her spot in round three.
Are you worried about Iga Swiatek’s struggles to get over the line or impressed by her mentality?
A tricky opening match in Rome…
After the match, Swiatek explained what she was struggling with during her Rome opener.
Iga Swiatek struggled to adjust to the wind during her second-round match vs Caty McNally
During her on-court interview, Swiatek delivered her verdict on the match.
“For sure, it was a tough match. Caty [McNally] really played great,” she said.
“She was fighting for every ball and played some amazing shots in defence.
“I had to really stay patient.
“Some mistakes happened, especially when she played a bit slower, sometimes with the wind it was hard to adjust to the ball.
Iga Swiatek vs Caty McNally – Match stats
| Stats | Iga Swiatek | Caty McNally |
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double faults | 3 | 5 |
| Winners | 39 | 15 |
| Unforced errors | 48 | 33 |
| 1st Serve % | 74% | 74% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 63% | 57% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 85% | 56% |
| Break points | 7/15 | 4/5 |
“It was not an easy match, but I’m happy I was solid at the end and in the important moments, and I kept it together, and at the end of the match, I was dictating.”
Swiatek continued, sharing her thoughts on the conditions in Rome.
“The most important thing is to get used to the conditions and get used to what you cannot do on this court,” she said.
“I remember many tough matches here, especially at the beginning of the tournament.
“You need to stay patient and fight for every point, because the court is super slow, especially when it’s a bit colder than usual.
“The court is heavy so it’s hard to finish the rally.
“You need to really be solid.
“For sure, the conditions are tough, that’s why you can see so many long matches.”
Swiatek was happy to secure the win, but will now turn her attention to the third round.
Who will Iga Swiatek play in the third round of the Italian Open?
The Pole will meet Emma Navarro or Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the third round.
Swiatek has a 2-1 head-to-head record against Navarro, but lost their most recent encounter, in Beijing last year.
With that in mind, Swiatek may prefer to face Cocciaretto, who she has only played once before, at last year’s Italian Open.
- 2025 Italian Open 2R – Iga Swiatek defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 6-0
Regardless of who she meets, Swiatek will need to play better than she did against McNally.
The 24-year-old was fortunate to win her opener in Rome, as she desperately searches for the form that once saw her win four Roland Garros titles.
Iga Swiatek and Francisco Roig make slow start together
When Swiatek replaced Wim Fissette with Francisco Roig, fans hoped to see her return to her best on clay.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.
Swiatek is 3-2 since hiring Rafael Nadal’s former coach.
Iga Swiatek’s record with Francisco Roig
- Stuttgart Open 2R [WIN] vs Laura Siegemund, 6-2, 6-3
- Stuttgart Open QF [LOSS] vs Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6
- Madrid Open 2R [WIN] vs Daria Snigur, 6-1, 6-2
- Madrid Open 3R [LOSS] vs Ann Li, 6-7, 6-2, 0-3 (RET)
- Italian Open 2R [WIN] vs Caty McNally, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
Will she improve that record to 4-2 when she returns for her third-round match in Rome?
Only time will tell.
Swiatek will play Navarro or Cocciaretto for a spot in the fourth round on Sunday, May 10.
