New Delhi: World no.3 Jessica Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets in the final to win the Bad Homburg Open title in Germany on Saturday. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, reached her maiden WTA Tour grass-court final after beating Jasmine Paolini in the semi-final at Bad Homburg. However, she was denied her first grass title by Pegula, who reigned supreme in the final.
31-year-old Pegula, the top seed at the Bad Homburg Open, started as favourite against Swiatek in the final. She broke the Polish star in the seventh game of the opening set to clinch it 6-4, taking a lead in the final. Pegula broke Swiatek once again in the second set and won it 7-5 to wrap up a straight-sets victory in an hour and 46 minutes.
Pegula had entered the final after a hard-fought win against Czech Linda Noskova in the semi-final. She registered her fourth victory against five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek in the last six meetings between the duo. However, the Pole still leads the head-t0-head record 6-5 against the American.
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