 "Iga Swiatek was seen crying during her match against Jessica Pegula. Image: X/IgaUpdates")
American tennis star Jessica Pegula stunned five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in the final of the Bad Homburg Open on Saturday. Pegula won the match 6-4, 7-5 to lift her third trophy of the 2025 season. On the other hand, Swiatek has not won anything in nearly 12 months. Her last title win came in the French Open 2024.
Swiatek, who is currently ranked World No. 8, broke down in tears during the match and looked emotional after her defeat. She had come into the tournament hoping to end her title drought. A video has gone viral, in which Swiatek could be seen wiping her tears with a blue towel courtside.
Pegula lauds Iga Swiatek
“I know you say you can’t play on grass but you are very, very good on grass,” Pegula said, addressing Swiatek after the match. “It was a special week.”
Pegula won a break at 3-3 in the first set to move 5-3 up.
The 31-year-old world number three, chasing her third title of 2025 and her first since April, landed the first set soon afterwards when the Pole sent a forehand long.
Swiatek put up a fight in the second set, edging close to a break but failing to carve out a break point.
It was Pegula who earned a breakpoint at 5-5 and she converted it with a sizzling crosscourt forehand.
Pegula held serve to seal her second career title on grass, following last year’s win in Berlin.
There’s hope for me on grass: Iga Swiatek
For Swiatek, who shed tears while waiting for the trophy ceremony, it was still a successful week after reaching her first career final on the surface.
“You have an amazing game and you showed it throughout the tournament,” Swiatek told Pegula. “Hopefully we will have many more finals together.”
“I feel it is going a good way and thank you for the opportunity to play here. This tournament shows there is hope for me on grass,” Swiatek said.
(With agency inputs)