Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek both won in straight sets on Sunday in Rome, setting up a fourth-round matchup at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Osaka beat Diana Shnaider 6-1, 6-2 in 54 minutes, while Swiatek defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0 in 65 minutes.
Swiatek said Osaka is "a great player" and added that she knows what the Japanese star can bring after their long rivalry, including a tough Roland Garros match two years ago. The Polish player said she would prepare technically and be ready.
Swiatek advanced to the Rome fourth round for the fifth time and remains the standard-setter at the event, having won the title three times. Osaka reached her third straight Round of 16 in Rome, a reminder that her form on clay has held up well enough to keep her in the path of one of the tour's toughest matchups.
The pair will meet for the fourth time at WTA Tour level and the first time since 2024, with Swiatek leading the head-to-head series 2-1. Their most recent meeting came at Roland Garros two years ago, when Swiatek beat Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5 after saving a match point in a match that stayed tight until the end.
Swiatek was sharp against Cocciaretto, finishing with 17 winners and 11 unforced errors while winning 72% of her service points. She said she wanted to stay solid and focus on herself no matter the score, and that she liked how she played because her serve was working and she was opening up the court. Osaka's win was equally efficient, and the matchup now brings together two multi-time Grand Slam champions who have collected 10 major titles combined. The question in Rome is whether Swiatek can keep her grip on the event or whether Osaka can turn a familiar rivalry into a different result this time.
