## The Queen of Clay Returns: Swiatek’s Roman Conquest Begins
The air crackles with anticipation in Rome. The Foro Italico, bathed in the golden hues of the Italian sunset, isn’t just a tennis court; it’s a stage where legends are made. And this year, the spotlight shines brightest on a familiar face: Iga Swiatek.
After a brief stumble on the grass courts of Wimbledon, the Pole is back where she truly belongs – on the unforgiving clay of the Italian Open. Her reign on this surface is legendary, and her hunger for another title is palpable. Can Swiatek reclaim her throne in Rome? Or will a new challenger dare to dethrone the clay queen?
Swiatek Back on Familiar Ground, and Back in Business in Rome – WTA Tennis
Riding the Winning Wave
Iga Swiatek is once again making waves in Rome. History suggests this is her time to shine. With three titles in four years and now 18 straight winning sets, Iga Swiatek is off to another commanding start at the Foro Italico — right when she needed it most. She’s played on the red clay in Rome and Paris 10 times since the turn of the century — and won seven of those titles. She was the winner last year in Rome, taking her third title in four years, and followed it up with her fourth at Roland Garros in five, matching Justin Henin’s epic three-peat of 2005-07.
After a difficult end of the 2024 season when she changed coaches, served a brief drug suspension, and lost the No. 1 ranking, Swiatek has been remarkably consistent so far, playing eight tournaments — and reaching at least the quarterfinals of each. “For sure, I’m happy with the consistency,” Swiatek told reporters on Monday in Rome. “This is something that I always want. There’s no tournament where I go in and I’m not prepared. “I feel like I’m the most kind of consistent as I was previous years. But for sure I want to also win some tournaments — that’s also the goal.” For Swiatek, the Internazionali d’Italia is a great place to start. She’s won three of the past four titles here and is again off to a terrific start in 2025. On Thursday, Swiatek defeated Italian wildcard Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0 in less than one hour. Swiatek won 28 of 35 service points and did not face a break point. This was her 18th consecutive win in Rome in straight sets and was her ninth 6-0 set at the tournament. Swiatek now has 33 “bagels” in WTA 1000 events, equaling Victoria Azarenka for the most ever. Next up: The winner of the later match between No. 29 seed Danielle Collins and Elena-Gabriela Ruse in a third-round match on Saturday.
A Familiar Foe
This year, however, things haven’t been as straightforward for Swiatek. Hard to believe, but Swiatek is looking for her first title since winning last spring in Paris. After reaching the final at the United Cup in Australia, losing to Gauff, Swiatek hasn’t been past the semifinals of an event. Of those eight losses, two each came to Gauff, Mirra Andreeva and Jelena Ostapenko and the others belong to Madison Keys and Alexandra Eala. Typically, the early season has been an unqualified success for Swiatek. In a span of three years, from 2022-24, she won three times in Doha, twice each in Stuttgart and Indian Wells, as well as in Miami and Madrid. In Rome, reporters respectfully tried to understand why 2025 has been different. Truth is, Swiatek — introspective as usual — herself isn’t quite sure.
“One month you don’t feel good with your forehand, the other with your backhand,” Swiatek said. “You need to just kind of follow with what you feel. I would say it’s different, the changes are different. “In 2023, I remember I had a lot of, like, anxiety on first part of the season. In 2024, I was kind of only looking at the Olympics. This year I feel like I am struggling a bit more with my perfectionism. I want to for sure focus on being disciplined on the court and making right choices, not the choices that sometimes pop out in my head.” While the back-to-back losses to the surging Andreeva came in Dubai and Indian Well, where she went on to become champion, the past three were more disappointing. The straight-sets loss to the No. 140-ranked Eala in the Miami quarterfinals was a shocker. The quarterfinal loss in Stuttgart came against Ostapenko, who improved her career mark against Swiatek to 6-0. The 6-1, 6-1 loss to Gauff in the Madrid semifinals was Swiatek’s worst loss in terms of games in six years. Swiatek, who played three three-set matches in the four before meeting Gauff, patiently, dutifully broke down what went wrong. “I had trouble focusing,” Swiatek said. “I wasn’t moving well. I think everything kind of built up at one moment. That’s why the score was like that. It’s just like one day. You can’t judge everything by it. “I’m continuing the work that I’ve been doing.
Jelena Ostapenko’s Style Evolution: From Court to Casual
A Superstar’s Style
Jelena Ostapenko has lit up tennis courts worldwide with her self-designed match outfits in recent years — and now the Latvian is turning her attention to casual wear.
In her quarterfinal post-match interview following her sixth defeat of Iga Swiatek in six meetings, Ostapenko wore a turquoise T-shirt emblazoned with a cartoon of a female tennis player, swishing her racquet as hard as possible with an expression of pure effort and aggression. Sound familiar? Too familiar to be a mere off-the-shelf item. After her 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Rebecca Sramkova on Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, she confirmed the year’s hottest tennis fashion news: a line of Jelena Ostapenko merch is coming soon to an outlet near you. For the past few years, Ostapenko’s self-designed collaborations with local Latvian brand DK One have made for the Hologic WTA Tour’s most original and colorful looks, and now she’s branching out. “It’s not tennis stuff, like match outfits,” she said. “More T-shirts, hoodies and caps. It’s in process, and it may be ready in one or two months. There are going to be logos, and some really cute tennis prints.”
Inspiration and Target Audience
The project hasn’t been all smooth sailing, as Ostapenko originally imagined. “There are a lot of people involved and a lot of work,” she said with a sigh. But she’s doing her bit for promo, trailing select outfits while retaining that all-important exclusivity. “A lot of people have been asking me, because me and my boyfriend wear some of that stuff,” she said. “Everyone is so curious and asking, ‘Where can I get it?’” The grin returns to Ostapenko’s face. “You can’t. It’s not out yet!
Ostapenko’s Influence
The former Roland Garros champion is tight-lipped on further details: “I cannot open up, it’s going to be a surprise,” she said. Though she did tease a double drop will eventually reveal the line. In the meantime, she’ll have a third-round date in Rome to take care of — against lucky loser Laura Siegemund, who was a last-minute replacement for Karolina Muchova (who withdrew due to a left wrist injury). Siegemund defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-2.
Conclusion
Iga Swiatek’s triumph in Rome wasn’t just another victory; it was a resounding statement. Dominating the field with her signature blend of power and finesse, she reclaimed her throne on clay, proving that her recent struggles were merely a temporary detour. We saw the familiar ferocity, the relentless baseline game, and the unwavering mental fortitude that has made her a force to be reckoned with. This victory in the Eternal City serves as a potent reminder of Swiatek’s enduring reign on clay and her determination to remain at the pinnacle of women’s tennis. Rome, with its rich history and demanding surface, has been a proving ground for champions. Swiatek’s success here signifies more than just a tournament win; it’s a validation of her commitment to the sport and her unwavering belief in her abilities. As we look ahead to the upcoming French Open, Swiatek’s confidence will be sky-high, and her rivals will be left wondering if they can truly dethrone the Queen of Clay. This victory is a launching pad, a springboard towards another potential Grand Slam title. The tennis world eagerly awaits the next chapter in Swiatek’s story, one that promises to be filled with thrilling rallies, breathtaking shots, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.
