Iga Swiatek didn’t look at her fluid best but still managed to beat world No. 63 Caty McNally in the round of 64 at the Italian Open, overcoming a brief second-set wobble to advance to the next round. The Polish star faced some tricky moments during the contest, but her experience and composure eventually helped her win 6-1,6-7 (5), 6-3.
Swiatek started the match dominantly, dictating the plays from the baseline and repeatedly pushing McNally behind the court with heavy topspin forehands. She went through the opening set at a score of 6:1, broke the American’s serve several times and hardly allowed her opponent to find a rhythm. McNally initially struggled to match Swiatek’s depth and consistency, especially during longer rallies.
Swiatek d.Caty McNally 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3
Iga goes through a hard opener
She’s still looking for her best tennis, but for some reason she’s a three-time champion at this event
Already one of the clay giants of all time
6. straight Rome R3
Never doubt Igo
pic.twitter.com/qO503fOk4g— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 8, 2026
MCNALLY IS NOT SWIATEK HARD WORK
However, the second set turned into a much tighter battle. McNally raised her level significantly, attacking the net more often and taking advantage of some free moments from Swiatek. The American’s aggressive approach paid off when she overcame the set 7-6 in a thrilling tiebreak and briefly shifted the momentum of the match.
Despite the setback, Swiatek responded maturely in the deciding set. She quickly gained control by improving her first serve accuracy and reducing her unforced errors. Swiatek scored 54 percent of her total points in the match and converted six break points, underscoring her dominance in the decisive moments.
McNally battled hard throughout the contest, but Swiatek’s experience and consistency on the clay proved decisive in the end. Swiatek will next face the winner of Emma Navarro and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
SWIATEK FIGHTS HARD
The former world number one has endured an unusually difficult clay court season by her high standards, struggling to rediscover the dominance that made her almost unbeatable on the surface. She arrived on clay after inconsistent results earlier in 2026 and failed to gain momentum during the European swing.
Her problems reached a sore point at the Madrid Open, where she was forced to retire in her third-round clash against Ann Li. Swiatek lost the opening set 7-6(4), bounced back to win the second 6-2, but was 0-3 down in the decider when she decided she could not continue.
The Polish star looked visibly distressed, called for medical help during the match and eventually left the court in tears. With the French Open fast approaching, Swiatek will be hoping to regain the form that once helped her win a hat-trick of titles at Roland Garros.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
08 May 2026 19:00 IST
