Tennis: Poland’s Świątek through to 2nd round in Rome

Poland’s Iga Świątek has made it through to the second round of the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome.

Empty stands during the 2021 Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: EPA/ETTORE FERRARI

The 19-year-old Pole, ranked world No. 15 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), on Monday beat American player Alison Riske, who retired during their first-round match in the Italian capital due to injury.

Riske was trailing 4-5 in the first set when she called it quits.

Alison Riske is forced to retire through injury in Rome 😞

🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek advances to Round 2 at #IBI21, 5-4 ret. pic.twitter.com/4VM6YauDGu

— wta (@WTA) May 10, 2021

🇮🇹Not the way I wanted to win but round 2 it is. All the best @Riske4rewards, get well soon.

🇮🇹Nie w taki sposób chciałabym wygrywać, ale jest druga runda w Rzymie. Alison, trzymam kciuki za powrót do zdrowia. pic.twitter.com/gC99EPcw5L

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) May 10, 2021

Up next for Świątek at the clay-court tournament in Rome is the winner of a match pitting American Madison Keys against her lucky-loser compatriot Sloane Stephens.

From 🎾 to ⚽.
👏 @iga_swiatek , perfect goalkeeper. #IBI21 pic.twitter.com/LP15sKRI78

— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) May 10, 2021

The rising Polish tennis star in February won the Adelaide International tournament in Australia, claiming her second singles title.

The Polish teenager in October won the French Open, claiming her maiden Grand Slam title and becoming the first Pole to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP