A few weeks before Iga Swiatek ended her year-long title drought by claiming her maiden Wimbledon championship, she reached her first grass-court final at the Bad Homburg Open. This milestone came shortly after the 2024 Roland Garros, marking a surprising improvement on grass — historically her weakest surface. Jessica Pegula, who defeated Swiatek in that Bad Homburg final, highlighted the transformation in Swiatek’s grass court play during a recent press conference, sharing insights into how the Polish star elevated her game on grass.
Jessica Pegula Observes Swiatek’s Evolution on Grass Courts
Despite losing to Pegula in straight sets in the Bad Homburg final, Swiatek demonstrated remarkable progress against experienced grass court competitors, including 2024 Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini. Pegula, the top seed in Bad Homburg and a respected player herself, commented on the noticeable changes in Swiatek’s approach during her pre-tournament press briefing at the Washington Open.
“I thought she was serving a lot bigger. I didn’t really watch her much during Wimbledon. I’m not sure if that was better. But she was serving really big in Bad Homburg and playing good tennis and beat good grass court players. I thought our final was a really high level. It was super close…”
—Jessica Pegula, Tennis Player
At Bad Homburg, Swiatek showed a significantly stronger serve, which was a key factor in her improved performance on grass. This upgrade eventually played an important role in her striking success at Wimbledon, where she dropped just one set throughout the entire tournament. Pegula expressed surprise at Swiatek’s confidence and skill on grass, noting that the final at Bad Homburg was highly competitive and featured excellent tennis from both sides.
Swiatek’s Breakthrough Performance at Wimbledon
At Wimbledon, Iga Swiatek completed a stunning run, eventually winning the final with a remarkable double bagel, only the second time in the Open Era that such a shutout occurred in a Grand Slam final since the 1988 Roland Garros. She dominated the semifinal and final, losing just two games combined across those matches.
Swiatek’s serve statistics illustrate her transformation vividly. She hit nine aces against Pegula at Bad Homburg and improved her first serve win percentage from 58 percent at that final to an outstanding 79 percent average during Wimbledon. The 24-year-old also minimized unforced errors and was broken less than once per match, underscoring her newfound stability on grass surfaces.
“You know she is always kind of down on herself about grass, and I was like, ‘Hey, you’re playing really good on grass, ‘I’m not really sure why you think you’re bad on grass or what it is’. So it was kind of funny she ended up winning Wimbledon. I was like, of course I said that and we had that moment when we played in the final and then she wins Wimbledon, but that’s just tennis for you.”
—Jessica Pegula, Tennis Player
Comparison of Swiatek and Pegula’s Upcoming North American Hard Court Tour
Following their duels on grass, both Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek are gearing up for the North American hard-court season. Pegula will begin her campaign at the Washington Open, where she clinched her first WTA singles title in 2019 and arrives this year as the top seed and World No. 4. Meanwhile, Swiatek is preparing for the Canadian Open in Montreal, which Pegula is also set to contest as the two-time defending champion.
The upcoming hard court events present a contrasting dynamic for both players. While Pegula boasts an established record at both tournaments, Swiatek is yet to capture a title in these settings. The field will experience some notable absences as well, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing due to fatigue, and Qinwen Zheng and Paola Badosa sidelined with injuries—altering the competitive landscape significantly.
Implications of Swiatek’s Grass Court Development
Swiatek’s ability to conquer her struggles on grass and secure the Wimbledon title marks a significant milestone in her career and adds to her versatility across different surfaces. By becoming the eighth woman to win a Grand Slam on all three major court types, she confirms her status as a formidable all-around player on the WTA Tour.
Jessica Pegula’s observations emphasize Swiatek’s focused adaptation and serve improvements that have evidently paid off, underscoring the unpredictable and dynamic nature of tennis competition. Their upcoming encounters on hard courts in North America are highly anticipated, as both athletes seek to capitalize on their momentum in the 2024 season.