Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Iga Swiatek -333 / Aryna Sabalenka +274 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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It's a top-two showdown at the 2024 Italian Open in Rome as top seed Iga Swiatek faces Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The match is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2024. Here's our Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka prediction.

Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview

Iga Swiatek defeated Coco Gauff for the 10th time in their one-sided rivalry to reach her third final at the Italian Open. I honestly believe we are looking at greatness unfold in front of our eyes right now because what Swiatek is producing is from the top drawer. The Pole improves her record in Rome to 19-2. She has a 116-17 lifetime record on clay.

Here are a couple of remarkable stats: Swiatek has reached the final of 40% of the WTA 1000 tournaments she has played (12 of 30); it's the highest such rate since this category was incepted in 2009. It's a better ratio than that of the legendary Serena Williams. Additionally, this fortnight, she is playing her 19th WTA Tour-level main draw on clay. She's now made the final in ELEVEN of them!

Aryna Sabalenka, for her part, downed Danielle Collins for the second time in as many weeks. Sabalenka had a bumpy ride to reach the championship match, dropping a set to American qualifier Katie Voylnets and former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina in a match where she saved three match points. But her form has improved since escaping with a victory over the Ukrainian. Like Swiatek, it's back-to-back finals for the Belarusian, but can she avenge her Madrid final loss?

Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka Head-To-Head

• Swiatek leads Sabalenka 7-3 in their head-to-head.

• They last played at the 2024 Madrid Open two weeks ago. Swiatek won in three sets after saving three championship points.

• The Pole is 13-1 on clay in 2024, while Sabalenka is 11-2 on the same surface this season.

Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction

Of the 24 finals Swiatek has played, she has only lost four of them. One of those defeats was accounted for by Sabalenka at the 2023 Madrid Open. Although the Belarusian nearly did it again a couple of weeks ago, the Pole thwarted her by showing off her steely resolve in that epic third set. Sabalenka has impressed in the last two rounds in Rome, finding her competitive groove at just the right time. We can expect a competitive final, but the conditions will suit Swiatek to ease to victory and join Dinara Safina and Serena Williams as the third woman in WTA history to win the Madrid-Rome double.