Swiatek Stuns Alexandrovaโ in Seoulโข to Claim Korea Open Title
SEOUL, SOUTHโค KOREA – Iga Swiatek, the world number two, secured a dramatic victory overโค Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Korea Open on Saturday, winning 1-6, 7-6 (7-3),โฃ 7-5. The Wimbledon โคchampion fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the deciding set and saved two match pointsโฃ to clinch the title.
The win marks Swiatek’sโ third title of the year, following victories at Wimbledon โandโข the Cincinnatiโข Open, โall achieved within the last threeโข months. It also represents โขa notable moment for the Polish star, who previously missed much of the 2022 Asian swing due to fatigue and a subsequent one-month doping ban โafter testing positive for a banned substance. This victory in Seoul could propel her โคchallenge for the world number one ranking, currently held by Aryna Sabalenka, who leads with 11,225 points to Swiatek’s 8,433.
Alexandrovaโฃ dominated the first set and held a 6-5 lead in the second, with 15-30 on Swiatek’s serve. However, Swiatek rallied, holding serve and then dominating theโ second-set tie-break. A late break in the third set sealed the victory.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I won it, because you were just playing great,” Swiatek told Alexandrova โคafter the match. “I just tried โคto stay alive.”
Swiatek’s triumph also โขcarries personal significance, as she joked it โฃmade up for herโ father, tomasz’s, unsuccessful bid for a medal at theโ 1988 Seoul Olympics as aโ memberโ of the Polish rowing team. “I’mโข happy that I could โwin here because of the family history,” she said. “My dad couldn’t win the Olympics, but at least I won this tournament,โฃ so hopefully he’s going to come here next โyear to enjoy everything.”
With 57 match โwins this year, Swiatek currently leads the WTA Tour in victories.
