Iga Swiatek is sending a clear message to the tennis world: the "Queen of Clay" is back on her throne. The four-time French Open champion stormed into the Italian Open semi-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over American fifth seed Jessica Pegula, needing just over an hour to dispatch her opponent in Rome.

This latest statement win follows a similarly dominant performance against four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, where Swiatek dropped only three games. The 24-year-old Pole is building momentum at exactly the right time, with Roland Garros just weeks away.

What's behind this resurgence? Swiatek has made some smart moves off the court. Last month, she brought on Francisco Roig—Rafael Nadal's former coach—and has been soaking up advice from the 22-time major champion himself during practice sessions. The results are showing in her game.

"The stuff we did in the last few weeks has helped, and I have a lot of confidence in my shots," Swiatek said after her latest win.

It's a welcome return to form for a player who seemed almost unbeatable on clay between 2020 and 2024, winning four French Open titles and six WTA Tour events on the surface. But last season, that invincibility slipped. Swiatek failed to win a clay-court title before falling in the Paris semi-finals, and a more aggressive playing style under former coach Wim Fissette left her struggling with consistency when matches got tight.

Now, with Roig's guidance, Swiatek is going back to basics. Against Pegula, she played with the high intensity and relentless pressure that defined her best years, but with something crucial added: stability. Her shot-making looked solid, her patience was evident, and she maintained a higher margin for error throughout the match.

For fans watching the clay season unfold, this is the Swiatek we've been waiting to see. The world number four is re-establishing herself as the favorite to lift the trophy at Roland Garros next month—and if this form continues, she'll take some stopping.