Iga Swiatek’s wait for a maiden grass-court title – and first on any surface in a year – goes on after she lost to top seed Jessica Pegula in the final of the Bad Homburg Open.
Pegula triumphed 6-4 7-5 to claim her ninth career title, third of 2025 and second on grass, after victory at the German Open a year ago.
Former world No 1 Swiatek has won 22 WTA titles – 12 on hardcourts and 10 on clay – but had never previously reached a grass-court final.
Pegula (right) secured her ninth career title and second on grass
The Pole is without a tournament victory since winning the French Open for a fourth time in five years in June 2024, with this clash versus Pegula her first final since then.
Pegula, who saved the only break point she faced in the match, said to Swiatek afterwards: “I know you say you can’t play on grass but you are very, very good on grass. It was a special week.”
Swiatek, who has slipped to eighth in the world rankings, will face Russia’s Polina Kudermetova in the first round at Wimbledon, a tournament at which she has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in five attempts.
American Pegula, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2023, will take on Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opening match at the grass-court major.
