WTA / ATP: last successful stops before SW19

Pegula denies Swiatek a first grass court title

A week after her unexpected marathon on her debut at the WTA 500 in Berlin, where she was the defending champion (losing 6-7(8), 7-5, 7-6(5) in 3h21 to Liudmila Samsonova), Jessica Pegula set the record straight. Still in Germany, but this time at Bad Homburg, the American was crowned for the second time in her career on grass thanks to four fine victories.

Although she needed three sets to get past Emma Navarro in the quarters and then Linda Noskova in the last four, she did not lose a set in the final against Iga Swiatek (6-4, 7-5 in 1h46), who has not won a trophy since Roland-Garros 2024. More aggressive, the Pole hit 30 winners (including 9 aces) but committed 39 unforced errors, a far too high total to hope to overcome "Jpeg". However, it was a positive week for her, as she reached her first final on grass – beating Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals – and climbed back up to World No.4 on Monday.

"This tournament showed that there is hope for me on grass", said Iga, who has been very unsuccessful on this surface since the start of her career.

For Pegula, who is one place spot ahead of Swiatek on the rankings, this third title of the year (after Austin and Charleston in the spring) comes at just the right time before taking part in another Major, undoubtedly more open than the other Grand Slam events.

"I feel like it’s been that way for a few years now", she told the press on her arrival at SW19, just 24 hours after her victory. "With Marketa [Vondrousova], Barbora [Krejcikova], Elena [Rybakina] winning, it’s a tricky surface. Honestly, I feel like it’s not lucky but there’s a lot of weird points and momentum swings and when someone’s serving well, there’s not much you can really do. Sometimes it’s one let chord, you get the break, and the person wins the match."

As a reminder, Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek were placed in the same half of the draw last Friday and could meet again in the semi-finals in London. But the road to the last four – with first matches respectively against Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Polina Kudermetova on Tuesday – promises to be long and particularly tricky.

Joint takes the youth battle

Also on Saturday, the final of the WTA 250 at Eastbourne brought out the best in the new generation as it featured Maya Joint (19) against the revelation of the season Alexandra Eala (20). At the end of an intense match full of drama, the Australian lifted her second trophy of the season (after Rabat in May), but not without saving four match points in an unbreathable tie-break (6-4, 1-6, 7-6(10))!

"It was a very difficult match. That third set, I’m proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match. I think Alex played well today," Joint said. "She definitely tested me. I think after the first set, she got a lot more aggressive with her balls. I was on the back foot, I felt like, for most of the match. I just needed to try to find a way to get back into it."

Crowned twice in the last four events in which she has taken part, Joint will now be able to focus on a very difficult first round at Wimbledon, where she will face Liudmila Samsonova.

Fritz, at home in Eastbourne

Taylor Fritz, who has already won the title in 2019, 2022 and 2024 in the south-east of England, added his name for the fourth time at this ATP 250 tournament by beating his compatriot Jenson Brooksby in the final (7-5, 6-1). Despite a break down in the first set, the American, who beat Joao Fonseca, Marcos Giron and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets, came back to tie the score before unleashing his tennis to become the second most successful active player on grass (5) behind Novak Djokovic (8).

"I don’t know what exactly it is about it, but I come here and always feel like I’m playing great tennis", tried to explain the world No.4. "It’s always a great week for me. I think it always going to be a special place for me because it’s where I won my first tour title."

Placed in the bottom half (Carlos Alcaraz's section) of the Wimbledon draw, Fritz, who also won in Stuttgart a fortnight ago, is obviously one of the main candidates for final victory, although he will have to play a tricky first round against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

A perfect week for Griekspoor

What could be better for building confidence and boosting sensations than a week without losing a single set before playing a Grand Slam? Not much, as Tallon Griekspoor can attest. In sunny Mallorca, the Dutchman won the third title of his career thanks to flawless victories over Ethan Quinn, Gabriel Diallo, Félix Auger-Aliassime and finally Corentin Moutet in the final (7-5, 7-6(3)). A very tight final match played out in particularly difficult conditions.

"It was super warm again. I guess when you have some nerves it feels twice as warm as it is", Griekspoor explained following his success. "I guess the wind was saving both of us a little bit. But it was hot, it was warm, such a battle. Happy with the result in the end. I think I served great in the tie-break and throughout the match. He made it very, very difficult for me. But like I said, finals are not easy to play, but happy with the win."

Seeded No.31 at Wimbledon, Griekspoor will have to draw inspiration from Taylor Fritz in his opening match against Jenson Brooksby.