Bad Homburg Open WTA Day Three Round-up | Swiatek and Andreeva stunned as Muchova puts in statement showing

There were a number of top players entering the Bad Homburg Open today with them hoping to kick off with a triumphant result. In reality, it was a day of upsets with the top two seeds being knocked out.

The field is now very open in Germany. Along with Elina Svotilina’s withdrawal, the players are sensing a chance for glory to give them the best boost heading to Wimbledon.

Last year’s finalist, Iga Swiatek, is set to defend her Wimbledon title in the coming weeks. However, she will travel to SW19 with just one match on grass under her belt, and it is a defeat. Her uncertain and inconsistent form continues following the switch from clay to grass with Emma Navarro winning 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

The Nottingham Open finalist got out of the blocks the quicker, breaking enroute to a 3-0 lead. After Swiatek got on the board, three breaks of serve followed as the number one seed eventually got on level terms. This was short lived. A tiebreak seemed inevitable, but following a four-point spurt by Navarro, Swiatek was a set down.

Her response was very positive. A 34-minute set which was done and dusted with five consecutive games and just three points dropped on serve. That momentum was shifted almost instantly in the third and decisive set. Navarro once again stormed out into a 3-0 lead, surviving three break points in the process. From then, she did not look back. Both players were comfortable on serve as the six-time Grand Slam champion could not create anything. A fine performance from Navarro was sealed with an ace as Swiatek continues to figure out how to get back to her best.

Another surprising result came in an all-Russian encounter. Mirra Andreeva is playing in her first match since lifting the Roland Garros title. However, it would end with a whimper as she lost 6-3, 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

The first break points went the was of Alexandrova who could not convert any of them as the major champion levelled at 3-3. The Russian number three had more experience on grass this year over Andreeva, albeit she has not won many matches, and used that to her advantage. She got that break before serving it out with her second set point.

She made it six games in a row as she sprinted 4-0 clear. Andreeva was not at her best but still mounted a challenge. The 19-year-old clawed herself back to 4-3, but the damage had already been done. Alexandrova would not regret the two match points missed on the Andreeva serve, closing it out with a hold to love.

While Swiatek and Andreeva struggled, Karolina Muchova seemingly did not break a sweat. The former Roland Garros finalist defeated Romanian qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1, 6-1 in a statement win.

Now one of the big favourites for the title, the Czech sent out a message of intent with a dominant victory. She was on the right side of a trio of breaks before compounding it with a hold to lead 4-1 in the opening set. Another break was followed by her getting the first set under her belt.

There was no relenting from Muchova. She dropped just two points in the opening four games to the second set, breaking to love twice. Begu held to love before Muchova responded with one of her own to edge one away from the quarter-finals. She took her second match point and now is one of the big favourites for glory in Bad Homburg.

Elsewhere, Clara Tauson had to prevail the hard way against Qinwen Zheng. She got over the line with an eye-catching 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win. After 11 consecutive holds of serve with just one break point being created, the deadlock was broken very late. The Chinese created three set points, taking the third one and giving herself a healthy buffer.

However, back came Tauson. She broke right at the beginning of the second set, and that proved to be enough to draw the match level with Zheng unable to challenge. The 2024 Olympic champion fell away in the third set. Again, the Dane opened up with a break before striking late to set herself up with a chance to serve it out. She held to love and picked up a crucial win to get her back on track. As for Zheng, her hunt for consistency goes on following a tumultuous period with injuries.

Another Romanian qualifier was in action, this time with a much more positive result. Elena-Gabriela Ruse secured a quarter-final spot with a 7-5, 6-2 win against Anna Kalinskaya. It was Ruse who struck first, leading 4-2 before the recent French Open quarter-finalist responded. Ruse managed to find another break which put her within range of the first set, and with her third set point on serve got over the line.

She had the momentum behind her and used it brilliantly as Kalinskaya was left in her dust. She broke twice on the way to a 5-1 lead before three match points were wasted on the Russian’s serve. Not to worry as Ruse had a double break advantage, and would serve it out in the next game.