Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final.

World number one Swiatek will be red-hot favourite to successfully defend her Roland Garros crown afer comfortably prevailing on the clay against second-ranked Sabalenka.

In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win on the clay surface at Madrid and Rome in the same season.

She can join Williams in a European capital city hat-trick if she wins her fourth French Open title, and third in a row, with the clay-court Grand Slam starting in Paris on May 26.

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"Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," Swiatek told reporters. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court. Of course, I love to come to Paris and be there. It a great place for me to be and I really enjoy my time there.

"But these are a hard seven matches that you need to win so I don't take anything for granted."

Swiatek won her 12th successive match on clay by besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did in the recent Madrid final.

The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam winner, who didn't drop a single set on her way to another championship victory.

Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do.

Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win.

Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set.

After Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship.

"I would say the first set I didn't play well at all. I wasn't, I don't know, feeling my game well," Sabalenka told reporters. &nbsp;"In the second set I just tried to stay a little bit more aggressive... I just tried to put her a little bit under pressure.

"I had couple of opportunities to break her serve. Probably if I would take that opportunity, the match would go differently. I didn't use it, so it is how it is."

On Sunday Alexander Zverev bids to win his second Rome title when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the men's final.

Zverev is in his 11th Masters final, equalling Boris Becker's record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final.

Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final. World number one Swiatek will be red-hot favourite to successfully defend her Roland Garros crown afer comfortably prevailing on the clay against second-ranked Sabalenka. In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win on the clay surface at Madrid and Rome in the same season. She can join Williams in a European capital city hat-trick if she wins her fourth French Open title, and third in a row, with the clay-court Grand Slam starting in Paris on May 26. ALSO READ: Boxing: Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to win undisputed world heavyweight championship "Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," Swiatek told reporters. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court. Of course, I love to come to Paris and be there. It a great place for me to be and I really enjoy my time there. "But these are a hard seven matches that you need to win so I don't take anything for granted." Swiatek won her 12th successive match on clay by besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did in the recent Madrid final. The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam winner, who didn't drop a single set on her way to another championship victory. Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do. Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win. Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set. After Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship. "I would say the first set I didn't play well at all. I wasn't, I don't know, feeling my game well," Sabalenka told reporters. "In the second set I just tried to stay a little bit more aggressive... I just tried to put her a little bit under pressure. "I had couple of opportunities to break her serve. Probably if I would take that opportunity, the match would go differently. I didn't use it, so it is how it is." On Sunday Alexander Zverev bids to win his second Rome title when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the men's final. Zverev is in his 11th Masters final, equalling Boris Becker's record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

‘Unstoppable’ Iga Swiatek staying humble for 2024 French Open after Rome title win over Aryna Sabalenka

Germany's Alexander Zverev equalled compatriot Boris Becker's record by reaching an 11th Masters final on Friday when he ended the Rome Open giant-killing run of Alejandro Tabilo to set-up a title showdown against Nicolas Jarry.

World number five Zverev, who lifted the Rome trophy in 2017, battled back to see off Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to tie Becker's record for the most Masters finals by a German since the series began in 1990.

Third seed Zverev looked like he would become the latest high-ranking victim of an unusual men's tournament when he was battered in a sensational opening set.

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But Zverev battled back and after coming through a tight second set his class eventually showed, making the final at the Foro Italico for the third time.

"I was just hanging on in the second set. I brought my energy up. I was really just hanging on and waiting and the patience was kind of good today," Zverev said on court.

"He hit me off the court in the first set and I did not play well at all, but he was a big reason why. He gave me no rhythm and I am happy I turned it around in the tie-break and ran away in the third set."

Tabilo's run to the last four had become one of the stories of a tournament which was shed of a host of top men players either to pre-event injuries or shock early eliminations.

The 26-year-old Chilean had defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round and the 32nd-ranked player showed little fear of Zverev until he began to play more passively in the second set tie-break.

<h2>- Jarry ends Paul's hopes -</h2>

Zverev will be a big favourite to win Sunday's championship match when he faces Tabilo's countryman Jarry, who won his first Masters 1000 semi-final against Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

Jarry is guaranteed to move up to a career-high number 17 in the world rankings after reaching his seventh ATP final.

The 28-year-old is hunting his fourth tour title after coming through a more prosaic encounter with American Paul than Zverev had with Tabilo.

Jarry took the first set after breaking in game eight.

Paul fought back and won a more eventful second set, but instead of pushing on he missed the chance to become the first American to reach the Rome final since Andre Agassi 22 years ago.

Jarry sealed the deal after wasting four match points in the most dramatic game of the contest, setting up the biggest match of his career.

"I was able to come back with my tennis in the third set, play very aggressive. To finish the match is never easy but I made it through and it's an amazing feeling," said Jarry. "I think that in those moments I play my best tennis, when I have to give it all and I go for it."

Italian fans will have something to cheer for on Sunday after Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini reached the women's doubles final where they will face Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe.

Home supporters were denied the chance to see world number two Jannik Sinner and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini who pulled out before the event started.

Germany's Alexander Zverev equalled compatriot Boris Becker's record by reaching an 11th Masters final on Friday when he ended the Rome Open giant-killing run of Alejandro Tabilo to set-up a title showdown against Nicolas Jarry.

Germany's Alexander Zverev equalled compatriot Boris Becker's record by reaching an 11th Masters final on Friday when he ended the Rome Open giant-killing run of Alejandro Tabilo to set-up a title showdown against Nicolas Jarry. World number five Zverev, who lifted the Rome trophy in 2017, battled back to see off Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to tie Becker's record for the most Masters finals by a German since the series began in 1990. Third seed Zverev looked like he would become the latest high-ranking victim of an unusual men's tournament when he was battered in a sensational opening set. ALSO READ: Serie A: Juventus sack coach Massimiliano Allegri despite Copa Italia rampage But Zverev battled back and after coming through a tight second set his class eventually showed, making the final at the Foro Italico for the third time. "I was just hanging on in the second set. I brought my energy up. I was really just hanging on and waiting and the patience was kind of good today," Zverev said on court. "He hit me off the court in the first set and I did not play well at all, but he was a big reason why. He gave me no rhythm and I am happy I turned it around in the tie-break and ran away in the third set." Tabilo's run to the last four had become one of the stories of a tournament which was shed of a host of top men players either to pre-event injuries or shock early eliminations. The 26-year-old Chilean had defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round and the 32nd-ranked player showed little fear of Zverev until he began to play more passively in the second set tie-break. - Jarry ends Paul's hopes - Zverev will be a big favourite to win Sunday's championship match when he faces Tabilo's countryman Jarry, who won his first Masters 1000 semi-final against Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3. Jarry is guaranteed to move up to a career-high number 17 in the world rankings after reaching his seventh ATP final. The 28-year-old is hunting his fourth tour title after coming through a more prosaic encounter with American Paul than Zverev had with Tabilo. Jarry took the first set after breaking in game eight. Paul fought back and won a more eventful second set, but instead of pushing on he missed the chance to become the first American to reach the Rome final since Andre Agassi 22 years ago. Jarry sealed the deal after wasting four match points in the most dramatic game of the contest, setting up the biggest match of his career. "I was able to come back with my tennis in the third set, play very aggressive. To finish the match is never easy but I made it through and it's an amazing feeling," said Jarry. "I think that in those moments I play my best tennis, when I have to give it all and I go for it." Italian fans will have something to cheer for on Sunday after Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini reached the women's doubles final where they will face Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe. Home supporters were denied the chance to see world number two Jannik Sinner and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini who pulled out before the event started.

Tennis: Alexander Zverev equals Boris Becker's record to set up Rome final with Chile's Nicolas Jarry

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz.

World number one Swiatek now stands one victory away from duplicating the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double achieved by Serena Williams 11 years ago.

The 22-year-old Pole defeated third-seed Gauff for the 10th time in their 11 encounters, with her only loss in the series coming last summer in a Cincinnati semi-final.

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam winner due to defend her Roland Garros title starting a week from Sunday, will play the Saturday Rome final against either second-seed Aryna Sabalenka or American Danielle Collins.

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The top seed spent one and three-quarter hours in dispatching Gauff, the reigning US Open champion.

Swiatek ended with 26 winners and broke four times.

"I'm not thinking about statistics or history," she said after the victory. "I'm just playing day by day.

"It's easier that way, it lets you play more freely.

"I'll just try to play as good as possible in the final, no matter who it is.

"I won't be thinking of any records, there is still work to do."

<h2>- Breaks aplenty -</h2>

On the men's side, American Paul reached a clay court semi-final for the first time in his career with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Hurkacz.

The 14th seed is the first American to reach the final four at the Foro Italico since Reilly Opelka in 2021.

The momentum-shifting quarter-final came down to the wire, with a 15-minute final game capping off nearly two and three-quarter hours on court.

Paul finally came through on his fourth match point as Poland's Hurkacz sent a return long.

The match featured 13 breaks of serve, with Paul advancing with 29 winners and 41 unforced errors; and Hurkacz having 22 and 44 respectively.

"I started well but it got away from me in the second and start of the third," Paul said. "I had to stick around in the match. "I found the energy to get it going again. I was hitting my forehand bigger and with more intensity because Hubii can really crush the ball."

Paul will wait for an opponent from sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Hurkacz, who knocked Rafa Nadal out in the Rome second round, was unable to get his massive serve up to speed as he faced Paul, winner over defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round.

Hurkacz won the clay title in Estoril last month and suffered only his third loss on clay this spring.

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz.

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz. World number one Swiatek now stands one victory away from duplicating the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double achieved by Serena Williams 11 years ago. The 22-year-old Pole defeated third-seed Gauff for the 10th time in their 11 encounters, with her only loss in the series coming last summer in a Cincinnati semi-final. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam winner due to defend her Roland Garros title starting a week from Sunday, will play the Saturday Rome final against either second-seed Aryna Sabalenka or American Danielle Collins. ALSO READ: France Football keen on awarding Robert Lewandowski with Ballon d’Or – Reports The top seed spent one and three-quarter hours in dispatching Gauff, the reigning US Open champion. Swiatek ended with 26 winners and broke four times. "I'm not thinking about statistics or history," she said after the victory. "I'm just playing day by day. "It's easier that way, it lets you play more freely. "I'll just try to play as good as possible in the final, no matter who it is. "I won't be thinking of any records, there is still work to do." - Breaks aplenty - On the men's side, American Paul reached a clay court semi-final for the first time in his career with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Hurkacz. The 14th seed is the first American to reach the final four at the Foro Italico since Reilly Opelka in 2021. The momentum-shifting quarter-final came down to the wire, with a 15-minute final game capping off nearly two and three-quarter hours on court. Paul finally came through on his fourth match point as Poland's Hurkacz sent a return long. The match featured 13 breaks of serve, with Paul advancing with 29 winners and 41 unforced errors; and Hurkacz having 22 and 44 respectively. "I started well but it got away from me in the second and start of the third," Paul said. "I had to stick around in the match. "I found the energy to get it going again. I was hitting my forehand bigger and with more intensity because Hubii can really crush the ball." Paul will wait for an opponent from sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Chile's Nicolas Jarry. Hurkacz, who knocked Rafa Nadal out in the Rome second round, was unable to get his massive serve up to speed as he faced Paul, winner over defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round. Hurkacz won the clay title in Estoril last month and suffered only his third loss on clay this spring.

Tennis: World no. 1 Iga Swiatek downs Coco Gauff in Rome Open semis

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‘Unstoppable’ Iga Swiatek staying humble for 2024 French Open after Rome title win over Aryna Sabalenka

Tennis: Alexander Zverev equals Boris Becker's record to set up Rome final with Chile's Nicolas Jarry

Tennis: World no. 1 Iga Swiatek downs Coco Gauff in Rome Open semis