Iga Swiatek makes her first ever tour level final on grass in Bad Homburg!

 

Iga Swiatek will contest her first final in more than a year -- and her first career final on grass courts -- at the Bad Homburg Open after defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-3 in Friday's semifinals.

Fourth seed Swiatek improved her record over Paolini to 5-0 with the 1 hour and 6 minute victory -- her first head-to-head meeting with the Italian this season. She largely led wire-to-wire in her sixth Top 10 win of the year, outside of the early stages of the second set where Paolini broke her serve in the first game. The World No. 4 converted the only break point she held against Swiatek in the match in that game, but surrendered her serve to love immediately after and never led again.

Swiatek now owns 50 career victories over the Top 10 -- but until Friday, she hadn't earned any of those on grass.

"I wasn't expecting to win this match, so I'm happy that I just did my job," Swiatek said afterwards. "I knew how I wanted to play and I just went for it. I'm happy I kept the momentum going until the end of the match, Jasmine, you can't let her get back in the game because she's a fighter. I just wanted to go for it, and go for my shots."

Looking to win her first title since she triumphed at Roland Garros last spring, Swiatek will face either No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula or unseeded Linda Noskova in Sunday's final.

wtatennis.com

If you told me last year that in 2025 Iga would lose in the semis at Roland Garros, not reach a final for another 13 months, only to break that curse by reaching her first career final on grass I would have laughed. 

I think I'm still laughing actually but it's from pure happiness. 

Seems like the pressure truly being off Iga and putting in some work with Wim has allowed her to shine on grass for the first time in her career. 

I won't lie and say that I haven't been waiting for this day because I have. 

And as her long time fan it feels glorious. 

I have no idea why she has such low confidence on this surface honestly. 

She clearly has the game for it (yeah ok net game still needs some work) but the rest is solid. 

Spending a few extra days training on grass this year is certainly paying off. 

I think I've seen her hit more aces in this tournament than she usually does in a year.  

Whatever happens in the final with Pegula on Saturday, I have never felt more proud. 

It's so good to see her happy and enjoying herself out there again (on her worst surface no less!). 

I've missed it. 

Her game is a joy to watch and when she's feeling good it flows. Long may it continue.

Whatever the out come, what a great confidence booster for  Iga before Wimbledon.

Jazda Iga Grasstek! :)