World no.1 Iga Swiatek is through to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.
Her 6-4 6-1 win against Victoria Azarenka in the last 16 stretched her winning streak to 25 matches.
The Poles’ streak is the longest winning run since Serena Williams racked up 27 victories in 2015.
She will face 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu in the quarter-finals of the claycourt event.
Iga Swiatek bidding for her second straight Italian Open crown was quickly down 0-3 in the opening set.
She found herself under pressure from Azarenka’s return game but the 20-year-old bounced back by taking the next five games.
With Swiatek serving for the set at 5-3, the former world number one Azarenka saved four set points and broke to get back on serve.
Swiatek eventually broke Azarenka on her fifth set point to finally seal the opening set.
The 2020 French Open champion dominated the second set, breaking Azarenka four more times to wrap up the match in just under two hours.
Swiatek is seeking her fifth title this season, having won in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, and Stuttgart.
The 21-year-old Canadian, who returned to action in Stuttgart last month following a six-month mental health hiatus, is making her debut in Rome.
Third seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-4 to reach the Rome last eight for the first time, while Jil Teichmann beat Elena Rybakina 6-7(3) 6-3 7-5 in a match which lasted more than three hours.
Amanda Anisimova defeated her countrymate Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-2 to reach the next round.
