Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek said she “showed there is hope” for her on grass despite losing to American Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg Open final.
Former world number one Swiatek was playing in her first grass-court final but was edged out 6-4 7-5 by Pegula.
Despite being a former junior champion at Wimbledon, Swiatek has struggled on the quicker grass surface in her professional career.
Her 22 WTA titles to date have either been won on hard courts (12) or clay (10).
Poland’s four-time French Open and one-time US Open champion reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2023 but has not gone beyond the fourth round in any of her other four appearances there.
She has appeared to turn a corner in Germany this week, recording her first victory over a top-10 player on grass by crushing last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-1 6-3 in the semi-finals.
“This tournament shows there is hope for me on grass,” said Swiatek, who appeared to be on the verge of tears after her loss. “I’m happy we can play here and I’m happy I could prove that.”
World number three Pegula, who won her third title of 2025, told Swiatek in her on-court interview: “I know you say you can’t play on grass, but trust me you can still play pretty good on grass. Cut yourself some slack.
“Good luck for next week, I know it’s a short turnaround for both of us.”
Swiatek faces Russian Polina Kudermetova in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday while Pegula is up against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto on the same day.
A tough draw means Swiatek could take on former winner Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of Wimbledon and French Open champion Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.
In theory, Pegula has a much kinder run, although she could face surprise Queen’s Club champion Tatjana Maria in round two.
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