Swiatek, Paolini Withdraw from Berlin Grass-Court Event After Roland Garros Success

Swiatek and Paolini Withdraw from Berlin Grass-Court Event After Roland Garros Triumphs

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Roland Garros runner-up Jasmine Paolini have withdrawn from next week's WTA grass-court event in Berlin, citing physical and mental fatigue after an intense nine-week stretch.

Swiatek, who extended her winning streak to 35 matches with her third consecutive Roland Garros title, expressed the need for rest and recovery. "I had these ideas, like, doing preseason on grass so I can learn how to play there," she said. "But yeah, for sure it's a huge challenge."

Paolini, who reached her first Grand Slam singles final and the doubles final in Paris, withdrew due to an unspecified injury. Her impressive performance at Roland Garros propelled her to career-high rankings in both singles and doubles, including a Top 10 debut in singles.

The Berlin tournament, which begins on Monday, will still feature the remaining eight players ranked in this week's Top 10, including newly-minted world No. 2 Coco Gauff.

Swiatek's withdrawal highlights the challenges of transitioning from clay to grass courts. Despite reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, she has struggled on the surface, with a 9-4 record in four previous appearances at the All-England Club.

"I feel like every year it's easier for me to adapt to grass," Swiatek said. "So I think there is no need to do that. I just need to continue the work that I've been doing."

The Berlin event will provide an opportunity for other top players to gain momentum ahead of Wimbledon, which begins on July 1.

Tags: #IgaSwiatek, #JasminePaolini, #RolandGarros, #BerlinOpen, #GrassCourtTennis