Story by
Shock twist: Jessica Pegula’s prediction about Iga Swiatek looks startlingly accurate
- Story by
- Shock twist: Jessica Pegula’s prediction about Iga Swiatek looks startlingly accurate
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Pegula had been playing well in Rome but came up short in a one-sided contest with the world number three.
She went down 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour as Swiatek continued to build momentum on clay.
It was the second straight defeat for Pegula against the Pole, who took both wins in straight sets.
Advertisement
Swiatek is coming into form at the right time after early exits in Stuttgart and Madrid. She’ll face either Victoria Azarenka or Karolina Muchova next as she continues her run in Rome.
Jessica Pegula’s worries about Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal were justified
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Swiatek made a major change ahead of her first appearance on the surface this season, hiring Francisco Roig as a replacement for Wim Fissette.
But the six-time Grand Slam champion also made use of another key figure within the game, as Swiatek trained with Rafael Nadal at his academy.
The tennis world simply couldn’t ignore the link-up, with her WTA rival Pegula concerned by Swiatek training with Nadal, and understandably so.
Advertisement
She commented at the time: “I saw the clip of them on the clay, I was like, ughhh, this is bad for everybody! I was like, this should be illegal.”
Pegula was clearly joking at the very end of her reaction, but there would have been an element of truth behind her statement.
There is already some evidence to support that view. The timing of Swiatek’s performances may be a key factor in that regard.
No immediate success could have been expected due to the nature of her coaching change. But enough time has seemingly passed for her to truly adapt to her new setup. This process began with considerable assistance from Nadal.
Advertisement
Pegula wasn’t alone in noticing the impact of that partnership either. Fellow American Madison Keys shared a similar feeling: “I was like, oh God. The last thing we needed Iga to have on the clay was Rafa.”
Swiatek’s top 10 losing streak ends in Italian Open quarterfinal
Swiatek has put together a strong run at the Italian Open, with wins over Caty McNally, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Naomi Osaka before facing Pegula.
Despite her good form, she came into the match under some pressure due to her recent struggles against top 10 opponents.
Before this win, Swiatek had dropped six straight matches against players ranked inside the top 10, with four of those losses coming in the 2026 season.
Advertisement
This marked the longest such streak of her career and finally snapping it will be a relief for her as she moves deeper into the tournament.
Next up for Swiatek is another high-ranked opponent. She’ll take on Elina Svitolina in the semifinals.
The winner of that clash will face either Coco Gauff or Sorana Cirstea in the final. Cirstea made headlines earlier in the tournament by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Read more:
