“Iga Swiatek regains form and shines at the Italian Open.”

Iga Swiatek is back to her best on clay! After months of stumbling and growing criticism, the Polish star dispatched Naomi Osaka at the Rome Masters, showing clear signs that her renewed partnership with Francisco Roig is bearing fruit. This is the Swiatek that fans know and feared, a dominant, confident, and relentless player on what is her strongest surface.

The six-time Grand Slam champion, who has had a tough year without even reaching a semi-final on the WTA and without titles since Wimbledon 2022, seemed far from her peak. Her early exit in the second round of the Miami Open in March was the turning point that led to a radical change: the hiring of Francisco Roig, a veteran coach who has previously worked with Rafael Nadal, to replace Wim Fissette.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. On clay, Swiatek suffered an unexpected defeat to Mirra Andreeva in Stuttgart and was forced to retire from her match against Ann Li in Madrid due to health issues. Her shaky debut in Rome against Caty McNally, with a hard-fought victory in three sets, suggested that the best was yet to come.

However, the 22-year-old athlete proved that the “old spirit” has never disappeared. With a stunning performance, she dismantled Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0, and shortly after, crushed former world number one Naomi Osaka with a commanding 6-2, 6-1, securing a place in the quarter-finals against Jessica Pegula.

“From the first to the last point, I knew exactly what I had to do and executed it perfectly. I was confident in my game,” said Swiatek, who has already won the title in Rome three times.

The key to this resurgence, she explains, lies in her immediate understanding with Francisco Roig, with whom she has been working for almost two months. “I felt like I understood Francis from the start. Of course, it depends a lot on the relationship you have with the coach, but every player wants someone with a good eye, a clear plan, and who knows how to adapt training to the athlete’s needs at that moment.”

Swiatek continues: “Francis has a special touch; he adjusts the training considering all physical, mental, and technical factors. You feel that he is attentive to everything, and that makes everything fit together. It’s a really good feeling.”

In addition to her return to form, the victory over Osaka has another crucial impact: the Polish player is virtually guaranteed to maintain her third place in the WTA rankings, staying ahead of young American Coco Gauff, who would need to win the tournament in Rome to surpass her.

Iga Swiatek is back in full force, and her partnership with Francisco Roig promises to turn this season’s end into something grand. The Italian clay is just the beginning. Get ready for a new era of dominance in women’s tennis.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.