Tennis-Swiatek brushes Sabalenka aside to win third Italian Open title

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 18, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

ROME (Reuters) -Iga Swiatek beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-3 to win her third Italian Open title on Saturday as the Pole came out on top once again in a battle between the top two in the women's rankings following her Madrid Open triumph earlier this month.

The title was the 21st of Swiatek's career as the world number one extended her unbeaten run to 12 matches on clay to sound out a warning to her rivals ahead of this month's French Open where she is a three-time winner and the defending champion.