Iga Swiatek has not won a grass-court tournament at the WTA level, but she won't have to wait any longer now to do so because her first tournament of the season on the lawns has been revealed.
On Wednesday, the Polish star was confirmed as an entrant in the star-studded Berlin Open. This WTA 500 tournament, which will begin on June 16th and run until the 23rd, serves as a warm-up tournament for Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year.
Matches at the event will be played at the Steffi Graf Stadium, named after legendary German player Graff, who won 22 Grand Slams in a distinguished playing career.
It will be the first time that the World No. 1 will play in Berlin, having previously switched between Birmingham, Eastbourne, and Bad Homburg. Swiatek has a modest 16-7 lifetime record on grass on the pro tour, which is strikingly low in comparison to other surfaces.
However, she has been adapting to playing on the slick, pristine lawns and recorded her best results there in the 2023 season. She is also a former Wimbledon junior champion (2018), suggesting that she is a versatile player.
At the senior level, Swiatek reached the quarterfinals at SW19 last year, losing to an inspired Elina Svitolina. Before that, she withdrew before her semifinal match in Bad Homburg.
The Pole is not the only big name who has signed up to play in Berlin. Close rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will also participate at the event next month.
The tournament also expects an additional six Top 10 players to complement the trio who have committed to play, drawing praise from director Barbara Rittner, who compared the depth and talent level to that of Grand Slams.
"We have a field of starters that is normally only found at Grand Slam tournaments.