Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka | Italian Open 2024 Final preview, betting tips and H2H

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka renew their rivalry in a blockbuster Italian Open final in Rome on Saturday.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the players ranked first and second in the world will do battle for glory at Foro Italico.

And it is the second time in as many events that Swiatek and Sabalenka contest the showpiece, with the Pole saving three championship points to snatch glory in their thrilling Madrid Open showdown a fortnight ago.

They join four other players to have reached the final in Madrid and Rome in the same season, after Simona Halep (2017), Dinara Safina (2009), Serena Williams (2013) and Ons Jabeur (2022).

Swiatek is eyeing her third Italian Open crown, and would become the second player in the Open Era after Gabriela Santini to achieve the feat before turning 23.

The Pole now boasts the highest strike rate for finals reached in WTA 1000 main-draw appearances (12 of 30, 40 per cent) since the format’s introduction in 2009.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka is gearing up to appear in back-to-back WTA 1000 finals for the first time in her career.

The reigning Australian Open champion aims to land her second silverware of the season, and 15th career title.

The match gets under way at around 5pm BST (6pm local time) on Saturday and will be contested over the best of three sets on Center Court.

Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka prediction

Swiatek is now on an 11-match winning streak and is yet to drop a set this fortnight, putting Bernarda Pera, Yulia Putintseva, Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys and Coco Gauff to the sword along the way.

At 57.9 per cent, the three-time French Open champion holds the highest rate of finals reached on clay since 2000 (11 from 19 tour-level main draws).

Sabalenka’s run to the final has not been as straightforward. She had to come from behind to beat Katie Volynets in the opening round, before saving three match points to eventually battle past Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(7) in a late-night round-three thriller.

Straight-set victories over Jelena Ostapenko and Danielle Collins followed, but both common sense and history demonstrates the size of her next task in hand.

Elena Rybakina is the only player to beat Swiatek more than once on clay, while only Svitolina and Sabatini have beaten the reigning world number one in the Italian Open final over the past four decades.

With that in mind – and her extended time on court – that may well just give the Pole the edge and, with it, a fourth title of the season.

Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka betting tip

Iga Swiatek and over 19.5 games @ 5/4 with Bet365

Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka match odds

18+ | Please Gamble Responsibly | All odds correct at time of publication

How to watch Swiatek v Sabalenka live online

All matches from the 2024 Italian Open are available to watch live via the Bet365 live streaming service.

To access live streaming of tennis, simply:

1. Go to Bet365.com via this special link
2. Register an account, make a first deposit and bet £10 to receive £30 in Bet Credits*
3. Once registered, go to the sports homepage and select ‘Tennis’ from the left-hand menu
4. Select the play icon next to the match in progress and the stream window will appear

*18+ only. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. BeGambleAware.org. *or currency equivalent

Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka head-to-head

This will be the 11th meeting between the players on the WTA Tour, with Swiatek leading the head-to-head 7-3.

The Pole has won the last two showdowns, while each of Sabalenka’s victories have gone to three sets – including last year’s Madrid Open final.