Top seed Pegula eases past Swiatek to win Bad Homburg title
The American held serve throughout and gave up just one breakpoint in the match, denying the Pole her first career title on grass, just two days before the start of Wimbledon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Wimbledon 2025: Draper ready to fill Murray's shoes as home hope
Jack Draper insists he can cope with the pressure of replacing Andy Murray as Britain's leading contender to win Wimbledon 2025. Murray ended the 77-year wait for a British winner of the Wimbledon men's singles title when he beat Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final. The Scot won Wimbledon again three years later during an iconic career that included three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and a spell as world number one. Murray retired following the 2024 Paris Olympics, but British world number four Draper has already emerged as a worthy successor to the 38-year-old. READ | Djokovic feels Wimbledon is his best chance of winning record-breaking 25th Grand Slam Now, Draper knows he has to prove he can handle the expectations of the British sporting public at his home Grand Slam. 'Yeah, for sure. I think obviously when Andy retired, they said I was the next in line for that,' Draper told reporters at the All England Club on Saturday. 'Obviously Andy has done an unbelievable job. He's been incredibly successful and has become adored by the nation. It's obviously big shoes to fill. I'm aware of that. 'At the same time I'm confident in myself that hopefully I can inspire people like Andy has done. 'I'll keep trying to show my best tennis out there, to hopefully present myself as the player and the person I want to be.' Murray has been a useful resource for Draper since the 23-year-old burst onto the scene with a run to the US Open last 16 in 2023. And Draper won't be shy about asking Murray for advice on how to deal with the Wimbledon spotlight. Mentor Murray 'Obviously, Andy has given me an amazing amount of feedback and advice over the years. I think one of the biggest things is everyone is on their different journey,' Draper said. 'I know Andy's right there for me if I need him any time. There may come a point where I ask him a few things, and I'm sure he'll come back and be extremely helpful and supportive, as always.' Draper, who start his Wimbledon campaign against Argentina's Sebastian Baez on Tuesday, has never been past the second round in his three Wimbledon appearances. ALSO READ | Wimbledon 2025, men's draw This year's draw poses a host of threats to the Londoner's dreams of emulating Murray's Wimbledon success. Draper is scheduled to face former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic in the second round and Alexander Bublik, who beat him in the recent French Open, in the third round. The draw seeds Draper to meet seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic in the last eight, world number Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final. 'I haven't looked at that at all. I look at my first round. I respect every person in the draw,' he said. 'Obviously you guys have asked me a lot about the pressure and all that sort of stuff. I'm not thinking about that at all.' Draper's victory at Indian Wells in March was his first ATP Masters 1000 title, building on his maiden Grand Slam semifinal appearance at last year's US Open. After a rocky spell when he struggled to adapt to the gruelling demands of the ATP Tour, Draper now feels comfortable on and off the court. 'I think maturity, taking responsibility for my actions. When I was younger, it's tough. My friends went to university. I suppose they had an extended period of their childhood or their time to have fun,' he said. 'Sometimes you want to just take a break, but you can't in a sport like tennis. I would say that's the most challenging thing about being on the tour. 'For me it was a process and was definitely something I really struggled with at first. I suppose just growing up.'
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Confident Fritz heads to Wimbledon after fourth title at Eastbourne International
Taylor Fritz said he is heading to Wimbledon in confident mood after storming to a record-extending fourth title at the Eastbourne Open on Saturday. The world number five proved too good for fellow American Jenson Brooksby, who had progressed to the final as a lucky loser after defeat in qualifying, with a 7-5, 6-1 victory in the Wimbledon warm-up event at Devonshire Park. Fritz also won on the grass in Stuttgart earlier this month and now has five ATP titles on the surface, which is only bettered by Novak Djokovic among active players. 'I'll go there, get a nice practice in tomorrow and go for it,' said Fritz, who is due to play Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round at Wimbledon on Monday. READ | Mallorca Open 2025: Griekspoor beats Moutet in final to secure title with Wimbledon looming 'I'd much rather be going into the tournament with a title and confidence than a week of rest and just practice.' Fritz has made the event on England's south coast his own in recent years, also lifting the trophy in 2019, 2022 and 2024. After needing three third-set victories to reach the final once again this week, Fritz had to come from a break down in the first set before imposing his dominance over the world number 149 in the second. 'I got better and better with each match and felt like I really upped my level in this match,' added Fritz.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Taylor Fritz Downs Compatriot Jenson Brooksby To Clinch Eastbourne Title
Last Updated: Fritz registered a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Brooksby at Devonshire Park in the tune-up event ahead of the grand slam event at SW19. American Taylor Fritz got the better of compatriot Jenson Brooksby in the summit clash at Eastbourne ahead of the upcoming grass court Major at Wimbledon. Fritz registered a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Brooksby at Devonshire Park in the tune-up event ahead of the grand slam event at SW19. The 27-year-old, who will take the momentum from the triumph into the prestigious event in London, will take on Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his first round encounter. 'I'll go there, get a nice practice in tomorrow and go for it," said Fritz. 'I'd much rather be going into the tournament with a title and confidence than a week of rest and just practice." Fritz got off to a hesitant start in the championship clash against his countryman, but recovered before it was too late to salvage the opening set before closing out the second in dominant fashion. 'I got better and better with each match and felt like I really upped my level in this match," the American said reflecting on the victory. Earlier in the day, Maya Joint shocked Alexandra Eala in the women's final of Eastbourne to clinch the WTA title as the Aussie teenager posted a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) triumph over Filipino Eala in a contest that lasted over two hours and twenty five minutes. In another stunner on grass court in the lead up to the Wimbledon, Jessica Pegula got the better of Iga Swiatek in the championship clash of the Bad Homburg Open in Germany. Pegula clinched a 6-4, 7-5 win over Pole Swiatek in a fixture that lasted just under an hour and fifty minutes in the suburb of Frankfurt, ahead of the coveted event in the United Kingdom. First Published: June 28, 2025, 23:59 IST
