Iga Swiatek’s invincible aura took another hit on Thursday in Rome, as the three-time champion was outgunned by Elina Svitolina in a three-set semifinal, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Svitolina, a two-time champion at the Foro Italico, dominated the deciding set to earn her 25th career victory in Rome and book a spot in Saturday’s final against last year’s runner-up Coco Gauff.
“It’s amazing, the feeling is just unreal to be, after so many years, here again in the final, and just such an amazing feeling to do it in such a great way,” Svitolina said on court after defeating Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek in back-to-back matches to reach her second WTA 1000 final of the season.
Swiatek was broken three times in the opening set, and that ultimately proved costly as Svitolina secured the decisive break in the 10th game. The Ukrainian won just five of 18 points on second serve in the set, but managed to survive the pressure moments and edge ahead.
The second set belonged almost entirely to Swiatek. The Pole quickly grabbed control with a break in the opening game and a hold for 2-0, before storming through the remainder of the set to level the contest. But the momentum shift proved short-lived.
Svitolina saved three break points in the opening game of the decider, then broke immediately for a 2-0 lead. Swiatek earned chances to break back in both the third and seventh games, but the Ukrainian stood firm, saving all five break points she faced in the final set.
It’s another difficult loss for Swiatek, who had dropped just three games combined in her previous two matches against Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula. For the second consecutive year, the four-time Roland-Garros champion will head to Paris without a clay-court title. She has not lifted a trophy on the surface since defeating Jasmine Paolini in the 2024 Roland-Garros final.
Still, Swiatek can take positives from the week, including her first Top 10 victory of the season and her first semifinal appearance on any surface since last September.
Swiatek hit 50 unforced errors in the match, against 28 winners. She was broken six times but did manage to win more points than Svitolina (88 to 86).
Svitolina, meanwhile, will bid for her first WTA 1000 title since 2018, and her seventh Top 10 of the season (6-2 overall in 2026 vs Top 10).
“We played many times,” she said of facing Gauff for the sixth time. Svitolina holds a 3-2 edge in the rivalry, including victories this season at the Australian Open and Dubai. “It’s not a surprise, we both know the way that we bring the fight, and I think the last match was something out of this world.
“Definitely, I’m gonna rewatch that to find the ways and tactics. Firstly, I just want to enjoy this win tonight, and tomorrow, I think it’s a day off, so I can rest, prepare and be ready for the finals.”