Swiatek Ups Streak To 22, Holds Off Samsonova, Will Meet Sabalenka For Stuttgart Title

After 13 straight matches without dropping a set, Iga Swiatek finally let one go today in a very tough 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 win over Liumilla Samsonova.

Swiatek had won 22 straight matches and looked good early with a 4-1 lead. But it quickly evaporated. Samsonova gained momentum and even more pace on her shots slamming her way to an opening tiebreaker win, snapping the World No. 1’s 28-set win streak.

“For sure it was tough, and it seemed like a marathon,” Swiatek said. “It had many ups and downs, and I had to stay focused and find solutions. … I knew that Liudmila played really great tennis, and I felt that on my racquet, so all credit to her.”

Samsonova kept calm in the second but finally cracked at 4-all. In the third, Swiatek rolled out to a break lead before Samsonova got back on serve. Swiatek, though, was able to break at 5-all then serve it out.

“I have no idea how I came back. Honestly, I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to try and find solutions,” Swiatek said.

“I think Liudmila played Top 8 tennis. We both were fighting until the last ball. I was pretty fortunate that I was able to break her at 5-5.”

In the final, Swiatek will take on 2021 finalist Aryna Sabalenka who made it back to the final with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win over Paula Badosa.

Playing in her first semifinal of the season, Sabalenka was headed to a third straight loss but the Spaniard failed to out the first set at 5-3. Badosa fell apart at the end of the second double faulting twice to hand the match over.

“In the beginning, I couldn’t find my rhythm, and then there was like nothing to lose,” Sabalenka said. “She was up with a break. I kind of told myself in that game, ‘You have to work through it, you have to run and get everything you can, and just put her under pressure in that game.’ I did it well and I broke her back.

“That gave me a little bit more power and motivation to keep fighting for this set. And then with every point I played, I was feeling better and better, and I found my rhythm. But it was a tough match. There were a lot of break points for her, for me. It was ups and downs, and I am super happy that I was able to win this one.”

Swiatek and Sabalenka have split two prior meetings with Swiatek winning in Doha and Sabalenka taking it at the WTA Finals.

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