Iga Świątek defeated Bernarda Pera 6–0, 6–2 in the first round of the Rome Masters on clay on 9 May 2024, confirming her status as the overwhelming pre-match favourite with odds of 1.03 to Pera's 22.51. The Polish top seed's commanding performance saw her drop just two games across two sets, demonstrating the gulf in class between the world number one and her American opponent. Świątek's dominance on the red clay at the Foro Italico, where she has historically thrived, was evident from the opening service game through to the final point. The result underscored Świątek's continued mastery of clay-court tennis and set up a potentially more competitive second-round fixture.