Iga Swiatek, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, has begun her 2024 clay-court season with a victory at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Swiatek defeated Elise Mertens, a former world No. 12, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals.
Swiatek, who has been the most consistent player on tour in 2024, made a quick transition from hard courts to clay, despite an early exit at the Australian Open. She has since won WTA 1000 titles at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open and the BNP Paribas Open, and led Poland to a 4-0 BJK Cup victory over Switzerland.
Against Mertens, Swiatek started strong, taking a 5-1 lead in the first set. Mertens fought back to 3-5, but Swiatek held on to win the set 6-3. The second set saw a similar pattern, with Swiatek breaking Mertens’ serve early but then losing her own serve. However, Swiatek regained the initiative at 3-3 and held on to win the set 6-4.
Swiatek’s victory sets up an intriguing quarterfinal matchup with either 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu or Linda Noskova, who defeated Swiatek in Australia but has lost her last two meetings with the Pole.
