Iga Swiatek Battles Past Caty McNally in Three Sets to Reach Italian Open Third Round

ROME — Three-time champion Iga Swiatek battled into the third round of the Italian Open on Friday with a hard-fought 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 victory over American Caty McNally at the Foro Italico. The Polish world number two dropped serve in the opening game but rallied to seize control, demonstrating the resilience that has made her one of the most formidable players on clay courts in recent years.

The match proved far more challenging than the opening set suggested, as Swiatek appeared on course for a routine victory before McNally mounted a spirited comeback that tested the champion's composure.

Match Summary

The contest swung back and forth across three sets with both players showing moments of brilliance:

• First Set — Swiatek dropped serve in the opening game but rattled off the next six games to seize firm control against the 63rd-ranked American
• Second Set — The Pole seemed on course for a routine victory when she pulled 4-2 in front, but McNally twice broke Swiatek as the Pole served for the match and then snatched the tie-break 7-5
• Third Set — Swiatek nudged ahead with a break for a 3-1 lead, McNally clawed back to 3-all before Swiatek took the final three games to book her place in the next round

Swiatek's Reaction

"It was a tough match, Caty really played great," said Swiatek after the match. "I had to be patient. For sure, some mistakes happened. It was not an easy match. I'm really happy I was solid at the end and in the important moments. I kept it together."

The six-time Grand Slam champion showed visible relief after closing out the match, acknowledging the challenge posed by her American opponent who pushed her to the limit.

Next Match

Swiatek will play US 28th seed Emma Navarro or Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto this weekend for a place in the last 16 of the prestigious clay court tournament. The path ahead remains challenging as the Polish star seeks to reclaim her dominance on clay.

Recent Form

The Pole suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in the third round due to a viral illness. She was knocked out at the same stage in Rome last year as defending champion, making her current campaign particularly important for regaining momentum on her preferred surface.

Swiatek has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024, making the Italian Open an important stepping stone as she builds toward the French Open.

Other Matches

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines advanced with a straight-sets win over Chinese 31st seed Wang Xinyu. Canadian 10th seed Victoria Mboko withdrew from the event on Friday due to illness and will be replaced by Czech lucky loser Nikola Bartunkova.

Novak Djokovic is set for his first appearance on clay this season when he plays 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic. The 38-year-old Djokovic has not played since losing in the last 16 at Indian Wells in March, having pulled out of tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid while recovering from a shoulder injury.