ROME 2024 - Zverev wins after Djokovic’s injury while Świątek dominates
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With today’s guest Stefano Tognazzi, we comment on how Alexander Zverev becomes an ATP Masters 1000 champion for the sixth time. The German moved past first-time Masters 1000 finalist Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to win the title in Rome for a second time. Zverev will climb to No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, with his Rome title the biggest he has earned since he suffered a catastrophic ankle injury in the Roland Garros semi-finals in 2022. Prior to Sunday, the 27-year-old’s most recent Masters 1000 triumph came in Cincinnati in 2021, while he also lifted the Nitto ATP Finals trophy in the same season.
Meanwhile, on the WTA side… If Iga Swiatek can keep up her form, it’s hard to imagine anyone preventing her from winning a fourth French Open title. The top-ranked Swiatek dominated in her latest meeting with No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, winning the Italian Open final 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday to earn her third trophy on Rome’s red clay. Swiatek didn’t drop a set at the Foro Italico and extended her tour winning streak to 12 matches. In the semifinals, she was almost as dominant in a 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 3 Coco Gauff. Roland Garros starts next weekend and Swiatek will be aiming for a third straight title in Paris and fourth overall.