Fernandez Cruises, Sakkari and Svitolina Advance in Thriller-Filled Start to Bad Homburg Open
The Bad Homburg Open 2025 kicked off in Germany with a thrilling Round of 32, showcasing tight battles, impressive performances, and a standout victory from Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. With Wimbledon just around the corner, this WTA 250 grass-court tournament is proving to be a vital tune-up for several top contenders.
Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, delivered one of the most commanding wins of the day. The Canadian star was in top form as she breezed past Germany’s Tatjana Maria, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, 6-0, 7-6(1). Fernandez dominated the first set with aggressive baseline play and composure on return, and held her nerve in the second-set tiebreak to seal the win. With this result, she sends a clear signal that she’s adapting well to grass ahead of Wimbledon 2025.
Meanwhile, Maria Sakkari had to battle hard to survive a scare from Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. In a scrappy and physically demanding clash, the Greek powerhouse edged out a 7-5, 7-6(6) win, relying on her mental toughness and baseline consistency in the crucial points. The narrow victory shows that Sakkari is ready to grind it out on a surface that doesn’t always suit her natural game.
American rising star Emma Navarro also made her presence known, defeating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 in a match filled with high-octane rallies and brilliant court coverage. Navarro continues her impressive run this season, showing poise and shot variety on the fast-moving grass courts.
Another highlight came from Elina Svitolina, who prevailed in a tightly contested match against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. The Ukrainian played with measured aggression and defended exceptionally well, claiming a 7-5, 6-4 win to book her spot in the next round.
With strong wins from Fernandez, Sakkari, Navarro, and Svitolina, the Bad Homburg Open is already offering fans high-quality action and upsets as the WTA Tour gears up for one of its most prestigious Grand Slams—Wimbledon.
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