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World No 1 Iga Swiatek is looking forward to the rest of the grass season after managing to successfully do problem-solving in her first grass match of the year. Swiatek, who recently admitted that there are still things she needs to learn about playing on grass, recovered from a set down to beat world No 58 Tatjana Maria 5-7 6-2 6-0 in the Bad Homburg first round.
In her grass season opener, Swiatek found herself in a potentially tricky situation and a set away from suffering a shock defeat. Beating 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist Maria is an early boost for Swiatek's grass game. "She has a different game style.
But I'm pretty glad that I figured it out, because I guess problem-solving on grass is the most important thing. I really just wanted to look forward and think about what I could change. I know I have the game for that. I just had to find it a little bit," Swiatek said after the match.
Swiatek recovered to beat Maria
Swiatek made a great start against Maria, claiming an early break and opening a 2-0 lead. In the third game, Swiatek had a chance to go up by a double break but she missed out on two break points.
After failing to go up by a double break, Swiatek suffered breaks in the eighth and 12th games as Maria stunningly overturned the things and stole the opener from the Pole. But Swiatek quickly bounced back, breaking Maria in the first and fifth games of the second set for a very comfortable 5-1 lead.
Swiatek missed out on her first set point in the seventh game but realized her second set point in the following game to send the match into a decider. After winning the second set, Swiatek bageled Maria in the third set to complete her comeback win.
Swiatek plays Jil Teichmann in her next Bad Homburg match as the Pole will certainly be looking to clinch more wins this week and further lift her confidence levels ahead of Wimbledon.