Iga Swiatek, who eliminated Elise Mertens (WTA 30) in the second round, conceded her first defeat on Saturday on the clay court of Stuttgart. It had so far only conceded two rounds, one in 2022 and one in 2023.
In the final, Elena Rybakina will face either the Czech Markéta Vondrousova (WTA 8), finalist at Roland-Garros in 2019 and winner at Wimbledon in 2023, or the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (WTA 27).
Elena Rybakina, 24, will play her 19th WTA final on Sunday. She has won seven, including two this year, in January in Brisbane and in February in Abu Dhabi.
