Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview & Prediction | 2024 Italian Open | Women’s Final
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THE FACTS
What is this tournament classed as in terms of ranking points? WTA 1000
When is Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka on and what time does it start? Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on Saturday 18th May, 2024 – not before 16:00 (UK)
Where is Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka taking place? Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy
What surface is Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka being played on? Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka
What channel is Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka on in the UK? Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
World number one Iga Swiatek beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka in three tight sets to lift the Madrid Open title two weeks ago, a modern classic of a match that hopefully promises more of the same on Saturday. That Pole completed her set of prestigious clay-court titles with victory in Madrid, adding to her three Roland-Garros crowns, amounting to three of her four Grand Slam titles, and two trophies here in Rome from 2021 and 2022. 22-year-old Swiatek beat Coco Gauff in straight sets on Thursday to reach the final without dropping a set and it was here three years ago that she first truly displayed her now typical ruthlessness, beating former number one Karolina Pliskova 6-0 6-0 with an awesome performance.
26-year-old Sabalenka has arguably endured a much tougher draw than her opponent, surviving an early scare in the second round before edging past an inspired Elina Svitolina in the round of 16. The Belarussian has already beaten one former Roland-Garros champion in Jelena Ostapenko, handily in straight sets on Wednesday, and she beat red-hot Danielle Collins for the second time in as many weeks on Thursday to look a serious threat to Swiatek’s clay dominance once again.
THE PREDICTION
Sabalenka is an excellent all-court threat who can beat anyone, on any court, when her mammoth serve hits all of its high notes but she trails her rival 3-7 as things stand. The world number two has beaten Swiatek on clay, in three sets to lift her second Madrid Masters title last season, but Swiatek has won four of their five clashes on her favoured surface, including in the semi-finals en-route to her second title here two years ago. Straight sets could do it, with the conditions better-suiting Swiatek in this match-up than the high altitude of Madrid, but back the Pole to win outright for caution’s sake to bring a 12-match winning streak into Roland-Garros.
TIP: IGA SWIATEK TO WIN
