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Iga Swiatek wins in Rome
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Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Tennis player Iga Swiatek won the WTA tournament in Rome.
Against the three-time Rome finalist Karolina Pliskova, the Polish had a surprisingly easy game.
After less than 50 minutes, the 19-year-old turned her first match point to 6: 0, 6: 0.
It was the first encounter between Swiatek and Pliskova - and the first clear-cut final in the history of the tournament in the Foro Italico.
The two sentences are quickly told, the numbers are all the more impressive: Swiatek drove ten-year-old Pliskova across the field with powerful blows from the start, after 19 minutes it was 6-0, Swiatek had not even taken off her long-sleeved top to warm up.
Even in the second set, the Pole did not let up, only when the score was 0: 6, 0: 3 Pliskova managed to win the first point when her opponent served.
Two more points followed, but Swiatek did not let himself be unsettled by the breakballs he had earned, fended off both and pulled through to the finish line.
In the end, Swiatek scored 51 points, while Pliskova only made 13 points, the Czech also made six double mistakes (none by Swiatek) and 23 unnecessary mistakes (5).
"That was definitely not my best day today," said Pliskova at the award ceremony with a smile.
"Iga played great tennis today, congratulations!" She will now try to forget the result as quickly as possible and only remember the good days in Rome.
For the 29-year-old it was the third final in Rome.
In 2019 she won, in 2018 she had to give up prematurely against Simona Halep.
Swiatek, who appeared so serene on the square, was only noticed when she was addressed.
"I'm really, really happy," she said with a lump in her throat, then thanked anyone who could think of it.
For Swiatek it was the third title win on the WTA tour.
This means that she will be tenth in the top 10 of the world rankings from Monday.
Last year, the teenager rushed through the tournament in Paris at the French Open without losing a set and won her first Grand Slam title.
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