Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev win 2024 Italian Open

Iga Swiatek (Si Robi, Wikimedia Commons)

The 2024 Italian Open is now in the books with Poland’s Iga Swiatek victorious on the women’s side and Germany’s Alexander Zverev the winner on the men’s side. Swiatek trounced Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 in a rematch of the Madrid Masters final won by Swiatek, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6.

In the Rome final on Saturday, the biggest statistical difference in the match came down to break points. Swiatek broke Sabalenka in four of seven opportunities, while Sabalenka had seven break point opportunities herself but did not break Swiatek.

Sabalenka was one of three seeded players Swiatek beat at the Italian Open. In the quarterfinals, Swiatek beat the 18th seed, Madison Keys of the United States, 6-1, 6-3. Then in the semifinals, Swiatek beat another seeded American, the third seed Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-3.

This is Swiatek’s third Italian Open title. In 2021, she double bageled Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the final, and then in 2022, beat Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, 6-2, 6-2. This is the fourth WTA 1000 series event Swiatek has won this year. In addition to Madrid and Rome, she won in Doha and Indian Wells.

Meanwhile on the men’s side, Zverev, the reigning Olympic champion, beat Nicolas Jarry of Chile, the 21st seed in the final, 6-4, 7-5 in the final. Zverev broke Jarry once in each set, and won 95% of his first serve points. Jarry did not have a single break point opportunity in the entire match.

Jarry was one of two seeded Chileans Zverev beat in Italy. In the semifinals, Zverev beat the 29th seed Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-6, 6-2. Tabilo made tennis headlines a week ago as he upset world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-3 in the third round. In addition to beating Tabilo and Jarry, Zverev beat the 11th seed Taylor Fritz of the United States, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

This was Zverev’s first ATP title in 2024. The third seed in Rome won his second Italian Open. In 2017, he beat Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 for his first ATP Masters 1000 series title.