2021 Italian Open – Women's singles explained

Champ:	Iga Świątek
Runner:	Karolína Plíšková
Score:	6–0, 6–0
Draw:	56 (8 / 5)
Seeds:	16

See main article: 2021 Italian Open (tennis).

Iga Świątek defeated Karolína Plíšková in the final, 6–0, 6–0 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2021 Italian Open. It was her first WTA 1000 singles title, and the 13 points Świątek lost in the championship match is the fewest on record in a WTA 1000-level final (Serena Williams previously held the record, from the 2015 Miami Open final). This was the first WTA Tour singles final to be resolved with a 'double bagel' scoreline since Simona Halep defeated Anastasija Sevastova at the 2016 Bucharest Open, and was just the tenth such final in WTA Tour history. With the win, Świątek broke into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time.^[1] Both finalists saved match points in prior rounds – Świątek saved two match points in her third round match against Barbora Krejčíková,^[2] whilst Plíšková saved three match points in her quarterfinal match against Jeļena Ostapenko.^[3]

This was Serena Williams' last appearance in Rome, which was ended by the hands of Nadia Podoroska in the straight sets loss in the second round. The loss also ended Williams' 21-match winning streak in the tournament dating back to 2012. The streak includes three Italian Open titles. The last loss before this tournament was in 2010 against Jelena Janković, despite Williams having a match point in the final set.

Simona Halep was the defending champion,^[4] but retired due to a left calf muscle tear in the second round against Angelique Kerber.^[5]

Seeds

The top nine seeds received a bye into the second round.

Draw

Top half

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 4

Qualifying

Draw

Eighth qualifier

Championship match statistics

Category	Świątek	Plíšková
1st serve %	15/28 (54%)	18/36 (50%)
1st serve points won	14 of 15 = 93%	8 of 18 = 44%
2nd serve points won	11 of 13 = 85%	2 of 18 = 11%
Total service points won	25 of 28 = 89.29%	10 of 36 = 27.78%
Aces	1	1
Double faults	0	6
Winners	17	5
Unforced errors	4	19
Net points won	2 of 2 = 100%	3 of 5 = 60%
Break points converted	6 of 8 = 75%	0 of 2 = 0%
Return points won	26 of 36 = 72%	3 of 28 = 11%
Total points won	bgcolor=98FB989	51	13
Source

WTA singles main-draw entrants

Seeds

The following are the seeded players. Seedings are based on WTA rankings as of 26 April 2021. Rankings and points before are as of 10 May 2021.

Seed	Rank	Player	Points before	Points defending	Next best tournament or Rome 2020	Points won	Points after	Status
1	1	Ashleigh Barty	10,090	105	100	190	10,175	Quarterfinals, retired against Coco Gauff
2	2	Naomi Osaka	7,650	190	0	1	7,461	Second round, lost to Jessica Pegula
3	3	Simona Halep	6,520	(900)	900	1	6,520	Second round, retired against Angelique Kerber
4	5	Sofia Kenin	5,905	105	65	1	5,865	Second round, lost to Barbora Krejčíková
5	6	Elina Svitolina	5,835	(190)	190	190	5,835	Quarterfinals, lost to Iga Świątek [15]
6	7	~~Bianca Andreescu~~	5,265	(0)	0	0	5,265	Withdrew due to COVID-19 protocols
7	4	Aryna Sabalenka	6,195	(1)	190	105	6,195	Third round, lost to Coco Gauff
8	8	Serena Williams	4,850	60	0	1	4,791	Second round, lost to Nadia Podoroska
9	9	Karolína Plíšková	4,660	900	585	585	4,345	Runner-up, lost to Iga Świątek [15]
10	11	Belinda Bencic	4,140	(60)	65	1	4,140	First round, lost to Kristina Mladenovic [LL]
11	10	Petra Kvitová	4,160	105	1	60	4,115	Second round, lost to Vera Zvonareva [Q]
12	12	Garbiñe Muguruza	4,110	(350)	350	105	4,110	Third round, lost to Elina Svitolina [5]
13	13	Jennifer Brady	3,830	(0)	60	60	3,830	Second round, withdrew due to left foot injury
14	14	Elise Mertens	3,685	(190)	190	1	3,685	First round, lost to Veronika Kudermetova
15	15	Iga Świątek	3,555	(1)	20	900	4,435	Champion, defeated Karolína Plíšková [9]
16	18	Johanna Konta	3,236	585	105	1	2,756	First round, lost to Jeļena Ostapenko
17	19	Maria Sakkari	3,130	380	80	60	2,830	Second round, lost to Coco Gauff