Swiatek recovers from slow start to win Korea Open title

AFP | London

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Iga Swiatek battled back from a disastrous start to win the Korea Open yesterday, beating Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 in the final.

The world number two dropped the opening set after an error-strewn performance drastically out of keeping with her dominating form this week in Seoul.

World number 11 Alexandrova was two points away from winning the title but Swiatek came back to level the match after a tiebreak before finding her rhythm in the third set.

The win gave the Polish sixtime Grand Slam champion her third title of the season and her first ever in the South Korean capital.

Swiatek’s father Tomasz competed in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and she said she was “happy that I could win here because of the family history”.

“My dad couldn’t win the Olympics but at least I won this tournament,” said the 24-year-old.

“Hopefully he’s going to come next year to enjoy everything.”

Top seed Swiatek breezed her way into the final, winning back-to-back games on Saturday in a combined time of two and a half hours.

Her touch completely deserted her in the opening set of the final, committing error after error to hand number two seed Alexandrova the upper hand.