- World No.1 Iga Swiatek defeats Vekic 6-3, 6-4 to make it to the last 8 of the Rome1000.
Swiatek wasn’t 100% in the first set of the tie, but kept her cool by holding her serves easily and was comfortable with Vekic winning only 29 per cent of her points off her second serve.
The second set was a far closer, back and forth affair, with 49 unforced errors from both players. Both players even failed to register a break point in the first 8 service games of the set.
Swiatek converted the one break point of the set with a forehand winner down the line after the point produced the longest rally of the match, but it was swiatek who prevailed and broke to serve for the match.
Vekic had the chance to break back in the very next game, but Swiatek recovered the two break points before sealing her place in the next round.
The three-time grand slam champion has won her previous 14 matches in the Rome 1000 event. She will put that record on the line when she faces Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.
