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Swiatek sweeps past Paolini into first grass-court final in Germany / Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV - AFP
Swiatek sweeps past Paolini into first grass-court final in Germany
Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek reached her first ever grass-court final on Friday defeating last year's Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals at Bad Homburg.
The former world number one swept past second seed Paolini 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour to reach her first final in a year since she lifted her fourth French Open trophy in Roland Garros.
Swiatek, 24, will bid for her 23rd career title on Saturday against either US third seed Jessica Pegula or Czech Linda Noskova in the northern suburbs of Frankfurt.
Fourth seed Swiatek lost her opening service game but then settled in to break back to love and dominated Paolini for her fifth win in as many meetings against the Italian.
"I wasn't expecting to win this match, so I'm happy that I just did my job," Swiatek said.
"I knew how I wanted to play and I just went for it. I'm happy I kept the momentum going until the end of the match, Jasmine, you can't let her get back in the game because she's a fighter."
Pole Swiatek is playing her first tournament since the three-time defending champion lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of Roland Garros.
She has never before reached a final on grass, and her best result at Wimbledon is a quarter-final finish in 2023.
Paolini, 29, will now head to London, where she will begin her Wimbledon campaign against 402nd-ranked Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.
Former US Open champion Swiatek will face Russian Polina Kudermetova, ranked 63, in Wimbledon.
W.Richard--SMC
