Iga Swiatek won her fifth WTA title in a row, after thrashing Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-2 6-2 in the Italian Open final. The world number one stretched her winning streak to 28 matches –– surpassing Serena Williams’ run of 27 straight wins between 2014 and 2015. Venus Williams currently holds the record for the most wins in a row since 2000, having achieved 35 victories on the bounce in 2000. Meanwhile, Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record, with 74 straight wins in 1984. 

Swiatek reigns supreme again 

Having missed last week’s Madrid Open, some wondered whether Swiatek would continue from where she left off in Stuttgart. 

Yet, from the very first round, where Swiatek dispatched Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-0, it was clear she meant business. 

From there, the Pole thrashed Victoria Azarenka, Bianca Andreescu and Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, to reach a fifth successive final. 

Swiatek wins Italian Open

And while Jabeur played splendid tennis all week, she was no match for Swiatek, who continued her winning streak in some style. 

In the end, the Pole needed under an hour and a half to defeat Jabeur –– dropping just four games in the process. 

Can anyone beat the world number one? 

On current evidence, no. 

While Swiatek’s winning streak is impressive in itself, the manner of her victories has been nothing short of extraordinary. 

Across her last five finals, Swiatek has not dropped more than five games in total. Indeed, if the Pole manages to win the first set, there appears to be no stopping her. 

During her remarkable run, she has beaten a number of the world’s top players in dominant fashion. Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Maria Sakkari and Sabalenka are just some of the players who have tried and failed to get the better of the 20-year-old. 

With the French Open fast approaching, Swiatek is undeniably the favourite to win her second Grand Slam title. 

Though she may still be some way off Navratilova’s all-time record, the streak doesn’t seem like it will be broken any time soon.