Unsinkable Swiatek reaches the semi-finals in Rome

The world number 1's level on clay is really starting to scare people. Crowned in Madrid after a splendid tournament and, above all, a splendid final (7-5, 4-6, 7-6 victory over Sabalenka), Swiatek set off at the same frenetic pace in Italy. The Pole, who has yet to drop a set, alternates between controlled and rushed matches. In four matches, she has only really been caught out once: in the Round of 16 against the resurgent Angelique Kerber (7-5, 6-3).

On Tuesday, she met again in the quarter-finals with Madison Keys, a player she had already dominated in Madrid, in the semi-finals. Although the altitude had changed since Madrid, the result was much the same: a 6-1, 6-3 victory for the Pole in just over an hour, all without conceding her serve.

After two excellent tournaments, Keys once again fell on a bone. Missing all ten of her break points and conceding her own serve on four occasions, the American never really existed.

Swiatek, meanwhile, is growing in stature and is more than ever the favourite to win not only the title in Rome, but also the French Open. As she attempts to complete the Madrid-Rome double, a feat that has not been achieved since 2013 (Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal), the Pole is establishing herself more than ever as the big boss of the WTA circuit.

For a place in the final, she will face the winner of the duel between Coco Gauff (3rd) and Qinwen Zheng (7th).