This victory marks her second consecutive triumph over the world number two, following her Madrid Open win earlier this month.
Click on the audio player above, on the left, to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.
In the first set, the 22-year-old Pole broke Sabalenka twice, capitalizing on the Belarusian’s 12 unforced errors.
Although Sabalenka rallied in the second set, reaching five break points in an attempt to take a 2-0 lead, Świątek held firm.
She saved two more break points on her next serve before breaking her opponent again to secure her path to victory.
Świątek’s win in Rome took 1 hour and 29 minutes, marking her eighth victory over Sabalenka in their 11 meetings.
The Pole, currently ranked as the world number one, showcased her formidable form in Rome just ahead of the French Open, where she is a three-time champion.
Her Saturday's victory makes Rome the third tournament where Świątek has won three titles, alongside her successes at Roland Garros and Doha.
The Italian Open title is the 21st of her career, signaling a strong warning to her competitors.
Moreover, Świątek’s victory completes a rare Madrid-Rome sweep, making her the first player to achieve this double in the same year since 2013, when Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams did it.
This win extends Świątek’s impressive record, having won her last six matches against Top 3 players since her loss to Jessica Pegula in Montreal last August.
(mo/mm)
Source: PAP, tennis.com