Iga Swiatek outlines the change she’s made to her game after demolishing Jessica Pegula

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Iga Swiatek defeated Jessica Pegula, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.

The Pole was dominant from start to finish, sending a message to her WTA Tour rivals.

Is Iga Swiatek now the favourite to win Roland Garros?

What a performance!

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After the match, Swiatek highlighted the change she’s made to her game recently, which has started to take shape in Rome.

Iga Swiatek says she is using more spin and playing like a clay-courter again

During her post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked about her forehand technique.

“Yeah, I mean, I’ve been playing a bit differently, I would say,” said Swiatek.

Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula – Match stats

“More similar to how I played a couple years ago, more like a clay court player.

“I guess all the things that we practiced really clicked during the last few matches.

Iga Swiatek at the 2026 Italian Open

• 2R [WIN] vs Caty McNally, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
• 3R [WIN] vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 6-0
• 4R [WIN] vs Naomi Osaka, 6-2, 6-1
• QF [WIN] vs Jessica Pegula, 6-1, 6-2

“Yeah, I was feeling that I could really add a lot of spin and a lot of power to the forehand.

“The trajectory was really nice. I just used it.”

Swiatek was then asked about her serve, another area of her game she’s been working on with her new coach, Francisco Roig.

“Honestly, I feel on clay that there is not so much pressure on the serve because it’s not so easy to get free points,” she said.

“I know I have a really great baseline game, so even if my serve is going to be kind of normal and not do a lot, I know it’s still in my hands what happens with the point.

“I don’t think it’s that important.

“But for sure, yeah, the placement is more important than the speed here because the ball will bounce pretty high anyway, even when you serve like 180.

“It’s good to already, like, open up the court if you can with the serve.

“But as I said, I don’t feel like it matters that much as on other surfaces.”

Swiatek then shared how much she is enjoying her tennis in Rome.

“Yeah, if you play well, if you feel the ball right, if you are doing the right things, it’s all clicking, it’s easy to enjoy. Yeah, I am enjoying,” she said.

“There are tournaments that you enjoy; there are tournaments where you feel you play terribly, not even play, but you overall feel terrible.

“You need to kind of accept it can happen and kind of move on, work so you have an opportunity to play well on the next one maybe.

“For sure I feel good here.”

Swiatek has been feeling good and playing well in Rome, and looks well-placed to win her fourth Italian Open title this week.

Who will Iga Swiatek meet in the Italian Open semi-finals?

When Swiatek defeated Pegula, she became the third player to book her spot in the Italian Open semis.

2026 Italian Open semi-finals

• [26] Sorana Cirstea vs [3] Coco Gauff
• [4] Iga Swiatek vs [7] Elina Svitolina OR [2] Elena Rybakina

Swiatek will play either Elina Svitolina or Elena Rybakina in the last four.

Both players have excelled on tour this year, although Swiatek may prefer to face Svitolina, having won four of their six meetings.

Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina’s head-to-head record (4-2)

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina’s head-to-head record (6-6)

It remains to be seen who Swiatek will play in the semi-finals, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

Svitolina will play Rybakina on Wednesday, May 13.