WTA Stuttgart Open 2023: Iga Swiatek beats Aryna Sabalenka in final, successfully defends Stuttgart crown

At the Stuttgart Open, Swiatek continued her perfect career (8-0 in her two appearances) and increased her overall WTA singles finals record to 13-3.

Iga Swiatek in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)
By Nilavro Ghosh | Apr 24, 2023 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1, successfully defended her Stuttgart Open crown on Sunday by outlasting No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-4. After a one-hour, fifty-minute-long, intense match on Stuttgart’s indoor clay, in a rematch of last year’s championship, Swiatek won her 13th singles championship overall. At the Stuttgart Open, Swiatek continued her perfect career (8-0 in her two appearances) and increased her overall WTA singles finals record to 13-3. In their ongoing rivalry, Swiatek currently leads a 5-2 win-loss record against Sabalenka.

“I wanted to win really, really hard, but I knew that I can’t really focus on that and just I have to keep doing my job as I did on previous matches,” Swiatek said afterward. “I’m pretty happy that I could kind of have good mentality and just focus on what I want to do tennis-wise.”

Swiatek successfully defended a title for the third time in her career after doing so in Rome in 2022 and Doha this year. Two out of the three title defences on the tour this year were accomplished by Swiatek. The other was earlier this month’s Bogota title defence by Tatjana Maria.

Read More – ATP Barcelona Open 2023: Carlos Alcaraz dominates Stefanos Tsitsipas to win home crown

Both players used power hitting throughout the entire match on Sunday. The only break of the first set went to Swiatek after she crushed a forehand return winner down the line to extend the eighth game of the match using her excellent defence. After breaking in the first game of the second set, Swiatek’s next two service games saw her fall behind 0-30. The match was ultimately won by the top seed with a love service hold after she rescued herself from danger and managed to win more close games.

Sabalenka, the defending Australian Open champion, left Stuttgart with 23 victories this year, which is a record for 2023. In addition, Sabalenka will continue to hold the top spot in the race to the WTA Finals.
Sabalenka has made the final each of the last three years, but she has yet to win the Stuttgart title. On each of those occasions, the World No. 1 stopped Sabalenka, who lost to Swiatek twice before losing to Ashleigh Barty in the 2021 final.

Carlos Alcaraz wins Barcelona title

In a championship match at the ATP 500, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to cap off an ideal week at the Barcelona Open. The home favourite dominated Pista Rafa Nadal, combining fierce ballstriking, deft forehand drop shots, and inspired defence to win 6-3, 6-4 and win his ninth tour-level title. Alcaraz defeated World No. 5 Tsitsipas in 79 minutes despite dropping serve in the third game of the match. Alcaraz displayed no signs of nervousness in front of his home crowd.

“It is incredible,” Alcaraz said. “To feel this energy and lift the trophy in Barcelona in front of my family and friends, and most members of my team are here as well. Playing this level and to lift the trophy in front of them is a good feeling for me.”





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