STUTTGART, Germany—World number one Iga Swiatek cruised past Aryna Sabalenka 6–3 6–4 to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday in a repeat of last year’s final to confirm her status as a French Open favourite.
The Pole, back from injury and gearing up for her French Open title defense next month, and world number two Sabalenka traded powerful baseline blows before Swiatek earned a second breakpoint at 4–3.
She whipped a superb forehand down the line to go 5–3 up before easily holding serve to clinch the first set on her second set point.
Swiatek, fit again following a rib injury that forced her to withdraw ahead of the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers after she hurt herself during her run to the Indian Wells semifinals last month, broke her opponent again in the first game of the second set….