Iga Swiatek matches WTA record set by Victoria Azarenka after her dominant first-round win at the Italian Open

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Iga Swiatek is through to the third round of the Italian Open after a dominant victory over Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opening match.

Swiatek quickly dismantled the Italian home hope to kick off her title defence in Rome, defeating Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0.

Following her heavy defeat to Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open semi-final, the world number two has bounced back in Rome, and is looking to clinch her third Italian Open title in four years.

The Pole is looking to capture her first title of the 2025 WTA season, her 23rd overall, at a tournament she has found plenty of success at in the past.

Swiatek, a five-time grand slam champion, has broken records in recent weeks and is continuing to do so in Rome, having matched a two-time grand slam champion after the victory.

Swiatek ties record for most 6-0 set wins at WTA 1000 events

Swiatek has equalled Victoria Azarenka’s record of most 6-0 set wins in WTA 1000 events since the format’s introduction in 2009.

Already at the age of 23, Swiatek has 33 6-0 set victories to her name in WTA 1000 events, following her second set bagel against Cocciaretto.

Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka also has 33, with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki trailing just behind at 31.

Fourth in the list is recently retired Simona Halep, who collected 29 bagels at WTA 1000 tournaments over the course of her career, as Swiatek’s Polish compatriot, former player Agnieszka Radwanska tallied 26.

Swiatek’s dominance in Rome since 2021

Since making her Rome debut in 2020, Swiatek has gone on to win the tournament three times, cementing the hat-trick last year.

After a disappointing first appearance at the tournament, bowing out in the first round in 2020, Swiatek clinched a maiden Rome title in 2021, defeating Karolina Pliskova in the final.

• 2020: Lost to Arantxa Rus in the first round
• 2021: Won the tournament, defeating Karolina Pliskova in the final
• 2022: Won the tournament, defeating Ons Jabeur in the final
• 2023: Lost to Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final
• 2024: Won the tournament, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final

She went back-to-back in 2022, when she beat two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in straight sets to hold the trophy aloft for the second time.

After losing in the quarter-final in 2023, Swiatek regained her crown the following year, where to complete the Rome treble, the Pole bettered Aryna Sabalenka in dominating fashion, winning 6-2, 6-3.