Iga Świątek may not be in the Italian Open final, but she will depart Rome with renewed confidence.
After all, her run at this event marked the return of her old, ruthless, energetic self, as she put stars like Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula to the sword before narrowly losing to Elina Svitolina last night.
It was an enthralling and intriguing battle between two top talents, both of whom will fancy their chances of success at Roland Garros later this month.
And, taking to Instagram after her loss, Swiatek referenced the match while also discussing what this run in Rome will do for her going forward.
Iga Swiatek speaks for the first time after her Italian Open semi-final loss
She began by simply writing: “Yesterday’s match was demanding and of course I was hoping for a different result.”
That much was obvious, but it’s how she would react to what many might see as a crushing defeat that remained uncertain.
How highly would you rate Elina Svitolina’s chances of winning the French Open out of 10?
However, Swiatek’s framing of the loss showcases great maturity, as she added: “Nevertheless, playing here brought me genuine pleasure and I feel that thanks to the work we’ve put in recently, my form is improving. Rome is always special for me. The tennis, the fans and – let’s be honest – the food mean I can’t wait to return next year. Grazie!”
Then, chatting with reporters after the match, she echoed that sentiment, adding: “Looking from the perspective of how I felt even in the USA, the tournament in Rome is a step forward for me.
“Obviously, I want more, but I still enjoyed playing tennis. And that’s not so obvious and shouldn’t be taken for granted.”
Meanwhile, Svitolina has outlined her plan for facing Gauff in the final of the Italian Open, which should be yet another great clash.
Has Iga Swiatek now made herself a favourite for the Roland Garros title?
With her performance in Rome, many are starting to believe that the Swiatek of old has returned.
After all, she tore through the draw until she met Svitolina, who was in inspired form once again to take out a second top-five seed.
And, in doing so, she was forced to save an astounding 16 break points. The Polish superstar was hardly well beaten despite losing the third set 6-2.
Who do you think is winning the women’s Italian Open final? 🏆
As inarguably the most successful active clay-court player on the WTA Tour, she remains impossible to discount on this surface. Not to mention the fact that she is a four-time champion in Paris, where she will head next.
With Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness now in doubt, alongside the unpredictability of stars like Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, perhaps Swiatek must be considered the favourite for the French Open once again.
