Jessica Pegula was definitely expecting a very tough match against Iga Swiatek at the Italian Open, and that is exactly what transpired.
Pegula was flying high in Rome, but she was sent crashing back down to earth in her one-sided encounter with the Pole.
Swiatek defeated the American 6-1, 6-2 at the Italian Open, needing just one hour and seven minutes to win their quarterfinal clash.
After early exits in Stuttgart and Madrid, the WTA number three is really coming into her own right now, which is indeed a scenario Pegula somewhat predicted before the clay-court swing got underway.
Which Grand Slam is Jessica Pegula most likely to win?
Jessica Pegula was right to be concerned by Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal
Swiatek made a major change ahead of her first appearance on the surface this season, hiring Francisco Roig as a replacement for Wim Fissette.
But the six-time Grand Slam champion also made use of another key figure within the game, as Swiatek trained with Rafael Nadal at his academy.
The tennis world simply couldn’t ignore the link-up, with her WTA rival Pegula concerned by Swiatek training with Nadal, and understandably so.
She commented at the time: “I saw the clip of them on the clay, I was like, ughhh, this is bad for everybody! I was like, this should be illegal.”
Pegula was clearly joking at the very end of her reaction, but there would have been an element of truth behind her statement.
And it’s a prediction that is already looking good, with the timing of Swiatek’s displays perhaps the biggest indicator.
There was simply no way she would have secured immediate success given the nature of her coaching change, but enough time has seemingly passed for the Pole to really get to grips with her new setup, which started off with significant assistance from Nadal.
Notably, it wasn’t just Pegula who was struck by the partnership, with her fellow American Madison Keys saying: “I was like, oh God. The last thing we needed Iga to have on the clay was Rafa.”
Where do you think she will be ranked?
Iga Swiatek ends nightmare top 10 run vs Jessica Pegula
It’s been a fine run in Rome so far from Swiatek, who has also battled past Caty McNally, Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Naomi Osaka.
But she would have been feeling the pressure heading into her match against Pegula, having endured a nightmare run against top 10 players.
Before beating the American, Swiatek had lost her previous six matches against top 10 players, including four in the 2026 season.
It represented the longest such streak of her entire career, which the Pole will be really glad to have finally brought to an end in Rome.
| Jessica Pegula | Iga Swiatek | |
| 44.4% 20/45 | Total service points won | 73.3% 33/45 |
| 26.7% 12/45 | Total return points won | 55.6% 25/45 |
| 35.6% 32/90 | Total points won | 64.4% 58/90 |
Intriguingly, she now faces another top 10 player at the Italian Open, with Elina Svitolina awaiting in the semifinal.
The winner of that meeting will play in the final against either Coco Gauff or Sorana Cirstea, with the latter having knocked out world number one Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the event.
And while Pegula is also out of contention, she remains in the Italian Open doubles draw, having just reached the semifinals alongside Storm Hunter.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
