Iga Swiatek starts grass strong: Dominates Victoria Azarenka in Bad Homburg Open

Iga Swiatek has started her grass-court season on the right foot, defeating former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open. The five-time Grand Slam champion showed good form in her only preparatory tournament for Wimbledon and now awaits her next opponent between Maria Sakkari and Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Former No. 1 Azarenka had advanced through qualifying and then secured a strong debut in the first round against Laura Siegemund. Despite the loss, the Belarusian quickly returned to the top 100 after three consecutive wins on grass courts.

First Set

Both players started by defending their first service games well, but Swiatek was the first to earn a break opportunity in the third game. However, she couldn't convert, and Azarenka found her best level. After the break point, the Belarusian won 9 of the next 10 points played – securing a break and taking a 4-1 lead on her serve.

However, Swiatek's reaction was swift – this time she went on a streak of 12 consecutive points – leveling the score at 4-4. The Pole regained control of the match and ultimately secured two consecutive breaks to close out the set on her serve at 6-4. Swiatek won 69% of her service points compared to only 52% for Azarenka.

Second Set

Swiatek had gained momentum from the first set, but with the new set, things changed. Azarenka saved a couple of break points in her first service game, and both players started at 1-1 again. Swiatek then secured the first break, but Azarenka quickly responded by breaking back, in a set that could have gone either way.

Swiatek's accuracy on return was key to pressuring her opponent's second serve, thus creating several more chances in the seventh game, which ultimately gave the world No. 8 the decisive advantage by 4-3. Swiatek held her serve until the end, and close out the 6-4, 6-3 victory. The 24-year-old player advance to the quarterfinals of the Bad Homburg Open.

The former world No. 1 will now face the winner between Maria Sakkari and Ekaterina Alexandrova. It's worth noting that Swiatek has never reached a final in a grass-court tournament in her career.

Match Statistics Azarenka vs. Swiatek