World number 1 Iga Swiatek beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-4 in 1 hour and 46 minutes to reach the fourth round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
Swiatek beat Putintseva for the fourth time in as many matches. The Polish player won all these matches without dropping a set.
Swiatek is aiming to win her third title in Rome one week after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Mutua Open. She would become just the third player to win both the Madrid and Rome titles in the same year.
Putintseva saved two break points in the second game to hold serve after four deuces. Swiatek broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and served out the first set 6-3 at love in the ninth game. Putintseva broke serve in the second game of the second set to open up a 4-1. Swiatek had to save four break points in the sixth game to stop Putintseva from serving for the second set. Swiatek broke back in the seventh game before holding serve to love to draw level to 4-4. Swiatek reeled off five consecutive games to close out the second set 6-4.
