2026 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome, Italy - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ladies 2nd SF,
Swiatek vs Svitolina
Both players have arrived on court
Match conditions will be heavy, cold night, a late start after the mens match went 3 sets and had a small rain delay
Iga won the toss and will receive
BTW Roig is in Iga's box after he had surgery on his achilles which he tore in practice with Iga
Great re-direction from Elina with great footwork and has 3 BPs
Elina breaks to love, can she consolidate?
Elina with 3 DFs already she has lost her rhythm on her serve
Iga with 2 BPs, Elina has gifted the break back to Iga
Iga with a love service game after being broken to love in her previous service game
3 all
Elina with great defense, re directing and breaks Iga
Elina will serve for the 1st set 5-3, though she must watch her serve, her 2nd serve especially
Elina and her 2nd serve? Meh and Iga has 2 BPs
Saves 1 BP with a good first serve
Iga with a UFE fhand , back to deuce, 20 UFE for Iga so far in this match UGH!
Iga with another BP and Iga breaks back with a fhand winner
Goodness me Iga with a wild fhand that didnt even make the court
Elina with 2 SPs
Elina breaks again to win the 1st set 64, Iga UFE has been her downfall in the 1st set was 20 and counting!
Iga with her customary toilet break

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Of course Iga made a response in the 2nd set, it is already 11.49pm, though players have a day off tomorrow for the final which is on Saturday
Elina will serve at 2-5
Iga breaks Elina and won the 2nd set 62
Going 3

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elina to serve first in set no 3
Great bhand down the line winner from Elina
I can safely say Elina is the Queen of Saving BPs in this tournament has saved 13 BP so far in this match, yesterday she saved 16BPs
If Elina is to compete in this 3rd set her 'serve will be key'
What a hold from Elina saving 3BPs
Elina went after Iga's 2nd serve and has a break can she consolidate?
A great Ace down the tee from Elina and saves BP
Great depth from Elina , deuce.
Tough hold from Elina and she leads 3-0
Elina 4-1
Great hold from Elina again saving BP
Elina leads 5-2
Elina with 1 MP
Svitolina d Swiatek 64 26 62 to make the final
Well done Elina your defense was outstanding and your re-direction of the ball as well you saved BPs a well deserved victory!

 

[don_fabio]

Iga seems like a shadow of herself compared to few years ago. She used to be lethal on clay. At one point it looked like she will win a few more RGs easily.

Now I'm not sure when she will win another slam. But she's always around, lurking, waiting for others to go down. Didn't she win a Wimbledon or something last year when no one expected it? I am not a fan of her anyway..