Iga Swiatek becomes the first female player to win 24 consecutive matches since Serena Williams in 2015

Iga Swiatek kickstarted her title defense at the Italian Open with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

In the process, she stretched her winning run to 24 matches, the longest streak since 2015, when Serena Williams won 27 straight matches.

The World No. 1 has been unstoppable this season as she has not dropped a match since losing a three-setter to Jelena Ostapenko in the round-of-16 in Dubai in February.

She has since picked up four titles. She won the Qatar Open by beating Anett Kontaveit in the final before completing the Sunshine Double, triumphing against Maria Sakkari at Indian Wells and Naomi Osaka in Miami.

Swiatek went on to claim another crown in Stuttgart to start her claycourt season on a positive note, beating players like Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka along the way.

And though she had to withdraw from last week's Madrid Open due to a shoulder injury, Swiatek emerged from her two-week break in spectacular fashion, beating Ruse in straight sets to advance to the third round of the Italian Open.

Williams, meanwhile, went on a 27 match win streak in 2014-15. Williams' streak started in the WTA Finals in 2014, which she won by beating Simona Halep. Her year-end success spilled over to the following season as she stretched her unbeaten run in the Australian Open against Maria Sharapova. She then won the Miami Open over Carla Suarez Navarro before being halted by Petra Kvitova in the semis of the Madrid Open.

"She's playing amazing and winning every single event" - Rafael Nadal on Iga Swiatek

Italian Open reigning titlist Iga Swiatek is a huge Rafael Nadal fan.

Iga Swiatek, the 2020 Roland Garros champion, has been very vocal in her admiration of 13-time French Open titlist Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard even sent the Pole a message after her semifinal loss at this year's Australian Open.

When asked for his thoughts on Swiatek's incredible run in his press conference following his 6-3, 6-1 win over John Isner, Nadal hailed the Pole as an "amazing" player.

"She's doing amazing things, no? Playing amazing and winning every single event she played, I think last four in a row. Winning Indian Wells and Miami in a row, something difficult," said Rafael Nadal.

"Just happy for her. She's very spontaneous and natural girl. It's good to have girls like this, good people like her having success," added Nadal.

Swiatek and Nadal have often exchanged positive words about one another and have practiced together as well. Both players will continue their title defense in the third round in Rome, with Nadal facing Denis Shapovalov and Swiatek taking on Victoria Azarenka.