Sylvia Plischke defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-4 6-1 in the Rome round of 16 on clay. The upset overturned the form book — Arantxa Sanchez Vicario came in leading the head-to-head 2–0, defending last year's semi-final. Sylvia Plischke claimed a first win over Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in three meetings, narrowing the head-to-head to 2–1.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-05-24 | Roland Garros | QF | clay | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 6-2 6-4 |
| 1998-06-22 | Wimbledon | R32 | grass | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 7-5 6-2 |