HAMBURG, Germany — In an impressive display, five-time major champion Iga Swiatek advanced to her first-ever final on grass at the Bad Homburg Open on Friday, marking her first final appearance in over a year.
Ranked eighth in the world, Swiatek triumphed over fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory in the semifinal round. This latest win extends Swiatek’s unbeaten record against Paolini, the 2024 Wimbledon finalist, to 5-0. “I wasn’t expecting to win this match, so I’m happy that I just did my job,” remarked Swiatek. “Jasmine, you can’t let her get back in the game because she’s a fighter. I just wanted to go for it and go for my shots.”
Standing between Swiatek and her first title since the 2024 French Open is American player Jessica Pegula, who is currently ranked third. Pegula earned her spot in the final after a grueling battle against the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, finishing with scores of 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-1.
This upcoming final will be Pegula’s fifth of the year, having already secured titles in Austin, Texas, and Charleston, South Carolina. Both Swiatek and Pegula will aim to add another trophy to their impressive careers in this exciting grass-court showdown.