Iga Swiatek routs Naomi Osaka to make Italian Open quarterfinals

Poland’s Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

ROME–Iga Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open after making short work of Naomi Osaka, 6-2, 6-1 and looking more like the player who won four French Open titles.

Swiatek hasn’t won a clay court tournament since claiming her most recent title at Roland Garros two years ago, with personal problems a factor in her poor performances on her favored surface.

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But she looked back to her old self on Monday, giving Osaka nowhere to turn as she scurried around the court and finished off the match in just one hour and 22 minutes.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, is yet to get beyond the last 16 of any tournament this year after also being knocked out of Indian Wells and the Madrid Open at the same stage by Aryna Sabalenka.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff survived a scare against Iva Jovic, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, and also reached the women’s quarterfinals.