In a thrilling showdown on the eve of Wimbledon 2025, Jessica Pegula delivered a masterclass performance to defeat Iga Swiatek 6-4, 7-5 in the Bad Homburg Open final, securing her second career grass-court title and ending the Polish star’s hopes of a maiden grass triumph. The world number three, riding a wave of confidence after a challenging season, outmaneuvered the five-time Grand Slam champion in a 1-hour, 46-minute battle at the WTA 500 event in Germany. Pegula’s victory, her ninth career singles title and third of 2025, marks her as a formidable contender heading into the All England Club, while Swiatek’s valiant run to her first grass final signals her growing prowess on a surface that has long eluded her.
The match was a tactical chess game, with Pegula leveraging her flat, low-hitting style to disrupt Swiatek’s rhythm, known for its heavy topspin. Pegula broke Swiatek’s serve in the seventh game of the first set to take a 4-3 lead, saving the only break point she faced to close out the set 6-4. The second set was a tighter affair, with no break points until the 11th game, when Pegula struck decisively with a sizzling crosscourt forehand, breaking Swiatek to lead 6-5. She held serve to seal the victory, showcasing a stellar 71% first-serve point win rate and 64% on second serves, compared to Swiatek’s 68% and 59%. “I know you say you can’t play on grass, but you are very, very good on grass,” Pegula told Swiatek post-match, graciously acknowledging her opponent’s skill. “It was a special week.”
For Swiatek, the loss was bittersweet. The 24-year-old, who has dominated clay with four French Open titles and won the 2022 US Open, reached her first grass-court final after a commanding 6-1, 6-3 semi-final win over 2024 Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini. “This tournament showed that there is hope for me on grass,” Swiatek said, her voice tinged with emotion as she reflected on her progress. “You have an amazing game, and you showed it throughout the tournament,” she told Pegula, adding, “Hopefully we will have many more finals together.” Despite hitting nine aces to Pegula’s three, Swiatek’s 39 unforced errors compared to Pegula’s 16 proved costly, highlighting the American’s precision on the fast surface.
Pegula’s path to the title was no easy feat. After a first-round loss in Berlin, she battled through tough matches against Katerina Siniakova, Emma Navarro, and Linda Noskova, staging a dramatic 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1 comeback in the semi-finals against Noskova, who served for the match at 5-3 in the second set. “I’ll try to use the surface as best I can,” Pegula said after that win, noting her low, flat shots could disrupt Swiatek’s game. Her strategy paid off, marking her fourth win over Swiatek in their last six meetings, though the Pole still leads their head-to-head 6-5. This victory, Pegula’s second over a top-10 player in 2025, adds to her titles in Austin and Charleston, reinforcing her versatility across surfaces.
At 31, Pegula is peaking, with a career-high ranking of world number three and a US Open final appearance in 2024. Her Bad Homburg triumph, her second grass title after Berlin in 2024, positions her as a dark horse at Wimbledon, where she faces Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round. Swiatek, now ranked eighth, takes on Polina Kudermetova, with a potential fourth-round clash against Elena Rybakina looming. “I’m happy I could prove that,” Swiatek said of her grass improvement, undeterred by the loss. For Pegula, the win is a statement of intent. “It’s a short turnaround for both of us,” she noted, eyeing Wimbledon with renewed confidence. As fans buzzed online, one called it “a perfect Wimbledon tune-up,” capturing the excitement around Pegula’s form and Swiatek’s resilience in a final that showcased the best of women’s tennis.
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