ATP/WTA Rome: Ruud and Swiatek Reach Semifinals After Stunning Wins
Casper Ruud (ATP) defeated Karen Khachanov (6:1, 1:6, 6:2). Iga Swiatek (WTA) crushed Jessica Pegula (6:1, 6:2), while Elina Svitolina knocked out Elena Rybakina (2:6, 6:4, 6:4).
Main Event
At the Italian Open (Internazionali BNL d'Italia), played on the clay courts of Rome's Foro Italico, the first semifinalists in men's and women's singles have been determined. On May 13, the tennis players who will continue their quest for the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 titles were revealed.
In the men's draw, Norway's Casper Ruud (23rd seed) overcame Russia's Karen Khachanov (13) in a three-set battle — 6:1, 1:6, 6:2. Later, he was joined by Italy's Luciano Darderi (18), who eliminated Spain's Rafael Jodar (32). In the women's draw, the biggest surprise was Ukraine's Elina Svitolina (7) defeating world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan — 2:6, 6:4, 6:4. In another quarterfinal, Poland's Iga Swiatek (4) left no chance for American Jessica Pegula (5), crushing her opponent in 67 minutes — 6:1, 6:2.
Details and Statistics
The match between Casper Ruud and Karen Khachanov was extremely uneven. The Norwegian started strongly, dominating the first set (6:1), but then play was suspended for over two hours due to rain. After the resumption, Khachanov looked better and took the second set by the same score of 6:1. However, in the deciding set, Ruud made two early breaks, regained control, and closed out the match. During the match, the Norwegian delighted the crowd with a spectacular between-the-legs shot.
A real drama unfolded in the match between Elina Svitolina and Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh representative confidently won the first set (6:2), but then the Ukrainian seized the initiative. In the second set, Svitolina converted a crucial break in the fifth game (3:2), and in the third she led 3:0, withstood a comeback attempt by Rybakina (the score narrowed to 4:3, then 5:4), and ultimately tipped the scales in her favor — 6:4, 6:4. The match lasted nearly two and a half hours. This victory was Svitolina's fifth over a top-10 player this season.
Iga Swiatek played a near-perfect match against Jessica Pegula. In 67 minutes, she did not allow her opponent a single break point, landed 77.8% of her first serves, and won 77.1% of points on her first serve. This victory was Swiatek's first over a top-10 player in 2026 after six consecutive losses against elite opponents.
Context and Significance
The semifinals in Rome hold immense importance for the players' future prospects ahead of the French Open starting May 25.
Iga Swiatek is showing a return to her best form on clay. After changing coaches at the start of the season and a dip in results (falling to fourth in the rankings), she has regained confidence this week. "I feel much better. I have great confidence in my shots. I'm playing a bit differently, more like a couple of years ago — more like a clay-court player," the Pole noted. Her statistics in Rome are impressive: she now has 25 wins and 3 losses at this tournament, approaching the records of past great champions.
Elina Svitolina reminded everyone that Rome is one of her favorite cities. As a two-time champion of the tournament (2017, 2018), she has equaled Serena Williams in number of wins at this tournament (24) and trails only Victoria Azarenka (27) and Swiatek (25). The tournament's prize fund is €7.7 million, and reaching the semifinals guarantees players solid ranking points and checks worth approximately €155,000.
For Elena Rybakina, the defeat was a painful blow in the race for the world No. 1 ranking. Missing the chance to earn additional points, she could not significantly close the gap on top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who also exited the tournament early.
In the men's draw, Casper Ruud, who dropped out of the top 20 in recent months due to the birth of his daughter and inconsistent play, showed he is ready to compete for high places in his favorite clay-court season.
What's Next / Match Preview
The semifinals will take place in the coming days on the center court of Foro Italico.
In the women's draw, a highly anticipated clash awaits: Iga Swiatek will face Elina Svitolina on Thursday, May 15. This will be a duel between two current top-10 players, each of whom has tasted victory in Rome. The favorite is undoubtedly the younger and more powerful on clay, Swiatek, but Svitolina has already proven she can turn around matches that are not going her way.
In the men's draw, Casper Ruud will take on Luciano Darderi. The Italian, seeded 18th, will enjoy incredible support from the home crowd. For Darderi, this is the first career opportunity to reach a Masters-level final, while Ruud will try to leverage his extensive experience in Grand Slam and major tournament finals.
The winners of these matchups will not only compete for a prestigious title in the Eternal City but also gain a significant psychological boost ahead of the clay-court major in Paris, where the prize fund traditionally exceeds €50 million.
— Editorial Team
