Iga Swiatek routs Jessica Pegula in Rome to reach first semifinal of 2026 season

The six-time main winner snapped a five-match shedding streak in quarterfinals relationship again to final October’s Wuhan Open. Swiatek beforehand fell in the final eight this season on the Australian Open (l. to Rybakina), Doha (l. to Sakkari), Indian Wells (l. to Svitolina) and Stuttgart (l. to Andreeva).

After being pushed to three units in her opener on the Foro Italico by her former junior doubles associate Caty McNally, Swiatek has since dropped seven video games in her subsequent three matches. Prior to dispatching Pegula, the Pole handily defeated Naomi Osaka thanks to six breaks of serve.

“I’ve been playing a bit differently, I would say. More similar to how I played a couple years ago, more like a clay court player,” she commented in press.

“I guess all the things that we practiced really clicked during the last few matches. I was feeling that I can really add a lot of spin and a lot of power to the forehand. The trajectory was really nice. I just used it.”