Confident Swiatek rediscovers ruthless best in Rome

Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek underlined how she is rediscovering her finest form on clay with another ruthless win to reach the Italian Open semi-finals.

Poland's Swiatek, 24, needed little over an hour to beat American fifth seed Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-2 on Wednesday.

Dropping just three games against four-time major winner Naomi Osaka in the previous round laid down a marker - and the manner in which Swiatek swept aside Pegula was another statement victory.

Having appointed Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig last month, and leaning on 22-time major champion Nadal for advice on the practice court, Swiatek is starting to regain the level which made her so feared.

On this evidence, the world number four is re-establishing herself as the favourite to win the French Open title next month.

"The stuff we did in the last [few] weeks has helped and I have a lot of confidence in my shots," Swiatek said.

Swiatek became known as the 'Queen of Clay' as she gained a firm grip on Roland Garros, winning four titles between 2020 and 2024, as well as six WTA Tour events on the red dirt.

However, she lost her invincibility on the surface last year - unable to win a clay-court tour event before losing in the Paris semi-finals.

Swiatek tweaked her playing style under previous coach Wim Fissette, who tried to implement a more aggressive approach from the baseline.

But she ended up losing confidence in what they were trying to achieve and quickly became ragged when matches started going against her.

It has been a case of going back to basics with Roig, who she snapped up after his short stint with Britain's Emma Raducanu ended.

Swiatek played with the high intensity and relentlessness demanded by Roig from the start against Pegula - but, crucially, she always looked stable in her shot-making.

Playing with more patience and a higher margin for error meant she was able to draw mistakes from the 2024 US Open finalist.

Pegula was well below par on a surface she does not favour, but the manner in which Swiatek refused to let her level drop was a sure sign of her increasing assurance.

Swamping Pegula's second serve with deep returning was another notable feature.

Tougher challenges will surely lie ahead in Rome - either Kazakhstani second seed Elena Rybakina or Ukraine's seventh seed Elina Svitolina await in the semi-finals - but the signs for the rest of the French Open challengers are beginning to look ominous.