Swiatek Set to Clash with Pegula in Title Decider

Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, showcased her dominance by defeating Jasmine Paolini, the second seed, with a score of 6-1, 6-3 on Friday. This victory propels her into the Bad Homburg Open final, as she aims for her first grass-court title.

Her opponent in the final will be Jessica Pegula, the top-seeded American, who battled through a tough match against Czech player Linda Noskova, winning 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1 in just over two hours.

With Wimbledon approaching, Swiatek, a former world number one, demonstrated her progress on grass, overpowering Paolini, who was last year’s Wimbledon finalist.

“I am extremely pleased, as I wasn’t anticipating this outcome. I focused on executing my game plan,” Swiatek stated following her victory.

“I am delighted to have maintained my rhythm throughout the match. With Jasmine, it’s crucial to prevent her from regaining momentum, as she is a fierce competitor. I aimed to be proactive and assertive in my shot selection.” Swiatek holds a commanding 5-0 advantage in previous encounters with Pegula.

Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion and one-time U.S. Open winner, chose to train in Mallorca prior to Bad Homburg, forgoing other grass-court tournaments this season before Wimbledon.

Throughout the first set, Swiatek encountered no significant resistance from Paolini, securing three breaks to claim the set in 29 minutes.

In the second set, both players exchanged breaks early on, but Paolini struggled to maintain her serve against Swiatek’s aggressive play, leading to a 4-2 advantage for the Pole.

Swiatek secured the win with a forehand, clinching her spot in the final against Pegula, who had to fight back from a set down to defeat the promising Czech player.

Noskova initially put Pegula under pressure, winning the first set and holding a 5-4 lead in the second, before Pegula regrouped, improved her returns, and completed the comeback on her third match point.

“Her serve was exceptional, and I struggled to read it initially,” Pegula commented. “Eventually, I began to anticipate it better. I’m pleased I managed to get back into contention.”

Regarding her upcoming final against Swiatek, Pegula remarked, “When she’s at her best, she’s truly outstanding.”

“That’s why she is a champion and previously held the number one ranking. My flatter shots could potentially disrupt her rhythm.”