SWIATEK FEELS MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE ON GRASS AND IS IN THE QUARTERFINALS – FORMER KURPARK FINALIST SINIAKOVA ALSO SUCESSFULL

Iga Swiatek threw a kissing hand into the audience and was celebrated by the tennis fans on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court, which was once again sold out with 3500 spectators. “I really enjoy the support here. It’s a great place – and today was a good day. I had the match under control and I’m really happy to be further along,” the world number one emphasized after her 6:3, 6:1 in the round of 16 of the Bad Homburg Open presented by Engel & Völkers against qualifier Jil Teichmann from Switzerland.

Swiatek made history in the time-honored Kurpark, as it is her first ever quarterfinal appearance on grass. The four-time Grand Slam winner is also pleased with the special premiere in view of the Wimbledon tournament starting next week: “It’s getting easier and easier for me to adapt my clay court style to the conditions on grass every year. I’m pretty positive about my future on this surface,” said the newly-crowned French Open champion.

Whether she was now on her way to becoming a grass court specialist, Swiatek was asked at the press conference in the smart Kaiser Wilhelms Bad. The 22-year-old smiled and then said, “There’s still a long way to go…!”

“1GA” Swiatek now against Blinkova – Siniakova challenges Samsonova

Against Teichmann, Swiatek faced three break points in her very first service game, but the industry leader kept her cool. With a spectacular tweener, she in turn took the service from the Swiss at 3:2 and became more and more dominant in the following. After 78 minutes, the favorite converted her first match point.

In the quarterfinals on Thursday (not before 4:30 p.m.), Swiatek will face ninth-seeded Anna Blinkova, who knocked out former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez on Wednesday (7-5, 6-2). Liudmila Samsonova, seeded second, and Katerina Siniakova will then face each other. The Czech, who beat Evgeniya Rodina 6-2, 6-4 in the round of 16, seems to be in good hands in Bad Homburg: two years ago, Siniakova only lost in the final to tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber.    

The quarterfinals in the overview – Thursday, June 29 (from 12:00):

Varvara Gracheva (France/No. 8) – Lucia Bronzetti (Italy).

Rebeka Masarova (Spain) – Emma Navarro (USA)

Not before 4.30 p.m.: Iga Swiatek (Poland/No. 1) – Anna Blinkova (No. 9)

Not before 18.00: Liudmila Samsonova (No. 2) – Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)