Rome Open: Iga Swiatek beats Aryna Sabalenka to reach Rome Open final
Iga Swiatek extended her winning run to 27 matches and moved within one victory of a fifth consecutive title by reaching the Italian Open final.
The 20-year-old Polish world number one brushed aside third seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-1 in her semi-final.
Swiatek has not lost since February but will play Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in Sunday’s final – a meeting of two of the form players in the women’s game.
Jabeur beat Daria Kasatkina and is going for her second title in a row.
Her semi-final was far more hard-fought, the 27-year-old having to save a match point in a 6-4 1-6 7-5 win over Russia’s Kasatkina.
Jabeur became the first Arab or African player to win a WTA 1000 title by winning in Madrid last week.
Swiatek has won her last four events, in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart.
The last player to win five events in a row on the WTA tour was Serena Williams in 2013.