Staff Reporter.
File Photo.
Polish teenager Iga Swiatek thrashed Czech ninth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-0 6-0 to win the Italian Open.
The 19-year-old reigning French Open champion took just 45 minutes to dispatch the 2019 winner and the result ensures that she will break the Top 10 for the first time on Monday.
Former world number one Pliskova has now lost back-to-back Rome finals after defeat to Simona Halep last year.
“I’m overwhelmed, at the beginning of this tournament I would not have dreamed of winning it,” said Swiatek, ranked 15.
Swiatek swept through the first set in just 20 minutes, with Pliskova winning just four points.
Pliskova, 29, attempted a fightback in the third game of the second set, holding a double break to go 2-1 up, but Swiatek ruthlessly snuffed out any return.
“I will just quickly forget about today,” said Pliskova, who was playing in her third consecutive Rome final.
“I’ve had some great matches here, in the past I did well.”
Today also marked the shortest completed WTA final since Istanbul 2009, when Vera Dushevina needed only 42 minutes to beat Lucie Hradecka 6-0, 6-1.