Iga Swiatek began her bid for a third straight Italian Open title in devastating style on Friday as the top seed crushed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-0 in the second round, while Ons Jabeur was defeated on her return from injury.
World No 1 Swiatek looked in exceptional form as she demolished Pavlyuchenkova in just over an hour to ease her way into the third round in Rome.
Losing finalist in Madrid last weekend, the Pole looked in great form in the tournament she won last year before going on to blitz the French Open, even though she is still shaking off a rib injury suffered at Indian Wells. "I still may feel some discomfort, but it is really, really low.
Even when I withdrew from Miami, the pain was low. It was just the risk of getting it worse that stopped me," Swiatek said. "I wouldn't say my physicality is stopping me.