SEOUL — In a stunning display of resilience that left even the victor searching for answers, world number two Iga Swiatek mounted a breathtaking comeback to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Korea Open on Sunday.
The Polish superstar, who had struggled to find her rhythm throughout the week in Seoul, found herself on the brink of a second consecutive defeat to the powerful Russian. Yet, from a set and a break down, Swiatek summoned her champion's mentality to claw her way back, securing her fourth WTA title of the season and the 15th of her illustrious career.
An incredulous Swiatek confessed in her post-match remarks, "I don't know how I won today, honestly. It was so tough and I was struggling with the rhythm. Ekaterina was playing amazing tennis and she's such a tough opponent. I'm really proud of myself that I fought until the end."
A Rocky Road to the Final
Swiatek’s path to the championship match was anything but straightforward. The top seed was pushed to three sets in three of her four matches leading up to the final, a testament to the challenging conditions and her own uncharacteristic inconsistency.
Her struggles were most evident in her service games, where she faced a barrage of break points. Against Alexandrova, a player who had beaten her in their most recent encounter in 2022, those vulnerabilities were exposed early and often.
Alexandrova's Dominant Start
From the first ball, Alexandrova imposed her aggressive game plan. Her flat, powerful groundstrokes, particularly on the forehand wing, rushed Swiatek and denied her the time she craves to set up her own heavy topspin shots.
The Russian broke Swiatek’s serve in the opening game and never truly relinquished control of the first set, sealing it 6-4. The momentum seemed to be entirely in her favor, a feeling that only intensified when she broke Swiatek again to lead 2-1 in the second set.
At that critical juncture, with the title slipping away, the match hinged on a single, pivotal game. Swiatek faced two break points to go down a double break at 1-3, a deficit that would have likely been insurmountable.
The Turning Point
What followed was a masterclass in mental fortitude. Swiatek dug deep, saving both break points with courageous, first-strike tennis. She held her serve, a feat that seemed to ignite a fire within her and completely shift the match's energy.
Suddenly, the errors began to flow from Alexandrova’s racquet. The pressure Swiatek applied from the baseline intensified, and the Russian’s first-serve percentage began to dip. Swiatek reeled off five consecutive games to claim the second set 6-2 and seize control of the match for the first time.
"I just tried to play a little bit better, be more compact with my strokes, and put a little bit more pressure on my opponent," Swiatek said, simplifying a comeback that left spectators in awe.
A Nerve-Wracking Decider
The third set was a tense affair, with both players holding serve through the first seven games. Swiatek, however, was the one creating more opportunities, her relentless returning forcing Alexandrova into increasingly risky shots.
The decisive break came at 4-4. Swiatek’s relentless returning finally paid off as she forced Alexandrova into a series of errors, breaking the Russian’s serve to love to give herself a chance to serve for the championship.
Even then, the drama was not over. Swiatek raced to a 40-0 lead, triple championship point. Alexandrova, showing her own fighting spirit, saved all three. Swiatek was forced to save a break point herself before finally converting her fourth championship point with a forehand winner, collapsing to the court in a mixture of exhaustion and elation.
Analysis of the Triumph
This victory underscored a key evolution in Swiatek’s game: the ability to win ugly. While she is known for her dominant, bagel-dispensing performances, this win was built on grit, problem-solving, and sheer willpower.
Key factors in her comeback included:
- Mental Resilience: Saving those break points in the second set was the psychological key to the match.
- Tactical Adjustment: She began to use more slice backhands to disrupt Alexandrova's rhythm and create more time.
- Return Pressure: As the match progressed, her return games became increasingly dominant, neutralizing Alexandrova's biggest weapon.
Alexandrova was gracious in defeat, acknowledging the fine margins. "It was a great battle today. I gave everything I had. Iga is such a great champion and she showed that today. She just played better in the most important moments."
Looking Ahead
The title in Seoul provides a significant boost for Swiatek as the WTA season moves toward its climax. It marks her first hard-court title of the year and provides crucial momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
More importantly, it demonstrates that even when her A-game is missing, her fight and competitive spirit remain world-class. This ability to grind out victories when not playing your best is often what separates the good from the truly great.
As she hoisted the trophy in Seoul, Swiatek’s words resonated with the humility and determination that define her. "I wanted to fight until the end. I knew that I could play a little bit better, and I did. I'm really happy that I have this trophy now."
In the end, the answer to how she won was clear to everyone but herself: with the heart of a champion. The world number two may not have known how she won, but her remarkable comeback in Seoul proved once again why she is consistently one of the toughest competitors to beat on the WTA Tour.