Iga Swiatek produced one of her sharpest performances of the clay-court season Wednesday, sweeping past Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the Italian Open.
The fourth-seeded Pole needed only 67 minutes to dismiss the fifth-seeded American, delivering a statement win at a crucial point in the season. It was Swiatek’s first victory over a top-10 opponent this year and her first semifinal appearance of the 2026 season.
Swiatek, a three-time Rome champion, controlled the match from the opening games. She raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set and never allowed Pegula to settle into rallies. Pegula managed only three games in the match as Swiatek dictated from the baseline and finished with 15 winners.
The result continues a strong turnaround for Swiatek after a difficult stretch that included illness in Madrid and uneven results earlier in the clay season. Her form in Rome now gives her a timely boost before Roland Garros, where the main draw begins May 24.
Swiatek will face Elina Svitolina in the semifinals after the Ukrainian rallied to defeat Elena Rybakina 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Svitolina saved 16 break points in the win and reached the Rome semifinals for the first time since winning the title in 2018.
Coco Gauff has already booked her place in the final, defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday. The American will face the winner of Swiatek and Svitolina.
Musetti Pulls Out of Roland Garros
On the men’s side, Italian star Lorenzo Musetti has withdrawn from the French Open because of a thigh injury, a major blow ahead of the clay-court Grand Slam.
Musetti, ranked No. 10 in the world, said medical tests after his Rome loss to Casper Ruud revealed a rectus femoris injury that requires several weeks of rest and recovery. The injury also forced him out of the Hamburg tournament.
The withdrawal is especially painful for Musetti, who reached the Roland Garros semifinals last year and had been expected to be one of the dangerous clay-court contenders again this season. His recent Grand Slam progress included an Australian Open quarterfinal earlier this year, a Wimbledon semifinal in 2024 and a U.S. Open quarterfinal in 2025.
Musetti’s absence removes one of Italy’s leading hopes from the French Open field and adds another injury concern to the final days before the tournament begins.
For Swiatek, the picture is very different. After weeks of questions about her form, Rome has quickly become a reminder of how dangerous she remains on clay. Her victory over Pegula was not just a win. It was a warning shot before Paris.
