Iga Swiatek, the World No. 1, won the Stuttgart Open on Sunday after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a repeat of last year’s final. The victory confirms Swiatek’s status as a favorite for the upcoming French Open.
Swiatek and Sabalenka traded powerful baseline blows early in the match but Swiatek earned a second breakpoint at 4-3, allowing her to take control of the set. She clinched the first set after whipping a superb forehand down the line.
Swiatek broke Sabalenka again in the first game of the second set and Sabalenka struggled to keep up, piling up unforced errors and struggling with her serve. Despite firing a cross-court forehand to hold, Sabalenka could not break Swiatek who held serve at 5-4 to clinch the title.
Fit Again After Injury
Swiatek’s victory comes after she withdrew from the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers due to a rib injury sustained during her run to the Indian Wells semifinals last month. Following her well-timed return from injury, Swiatek expressed her gratitude towards her team for making the right decisions.
“I want to thank my team because it has been such an intense time. I am so happy we are making the right decisions,” Swiatek said, following her victory.
Sabalenka Suffers Third Consecutive Loss in Stuttgart Final
While Swiatek won the Stuttgart Open for a second consecutive time, it was Sabalenka’s third straight loss in the final. Despite the loss, Sabalenka remains positive, “I’m just going to keep working and hope that one day it’s going to change,” she said.
Swiatek, on the other hand, is excited for what’s to come, “It’s a pretty exciting time. I will be coming back because I love this tournament.” With the French Open around the corner, Swiatek looks to continue her winning streak and defend her title.
Leave a Reply