Tennis

Diana Shnaider Triumphs in Bad Homburg Open, Securing Second WTA TitleBAD HOMBURG, Germany - Rising Russian star Diana Shnaider has etched her name in the annals of the Bad Homburg Open, capturing her second WTA singles title of the year in a thrilling three-set victory over Donna Vekic of Croatia.In a captivating final between two unseeded players, Shnaider displayed her resilience and determination, converting four of her six break chances while fending off 10 of 13 break points against Vekic. The 20-year-old Russian, who entered the tournament ranked 47th in the world, showcased her impressive grass-court prowess throughout the week.Shnaider's triumph in Bad Homburg marks a significant milestone in her young career. She had previously claimed her maiden tour title at Hua Hin in February, and her victory in Germany will propel her to a career-high ranking of 30 on Monday.The Russian's impressive performance has earned her a challenging first-round matchup at Wimbledon, where she will face 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova. Vekic, meanwhile, will take on Wang Xiyu in the opening round of the prestigious Grand Slam tournament.Shnaider's victory in Bad Homburg is a testament to her growing confidence and ability on grass. She has proven herself to be a formidable opponent on the surface, and her success in Germany bodes well for her chances at Wimbledon.

The Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt witnessed a thrilling encounter between Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki, which was unfortunately suspended due to darkness. Svitolina was leading 3-6, 7-6 (4), 2-1 when the match was halted.The match began with Wozniacki taking the first set, but Svitolina fought back to win the second in a tiebreaker. In the deciding set, Svitolina broke Wozniacki's serve and was on the verge of extending her lead when the match was suspended.Svitolina and Wozniacki have a long history, having faced off five times before their respective maternity leaves. Svitolina holds a 4-1 advantage in their head-to-head record.Both players returned to action last summer, with Svitolina reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while Wozniacki reached the second week of the US Open. However, injuries and inconsistencies have plagued both players since the start of 2024.Svitolina has been struggling with a back injury since returning to play, while Wozniacki has faced stamina issues. Wozniacki was not offered a wild card into Roland Garros, and she lost in the first round of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.Svitolina was playing her first match since losing in the fourth round of Roland Garros, and she struggled early against Wozniacki. However, she found her rhythm in the second set and forced a tiebreaker.In the tiebreaker, Svitolina took an early lead and converted her first set point with a searing forehand putaway.The third set began with Wozniacki threatening to break Svitolina's serve, but Svitolina dug out of a 0-30 deficit. However, Wozniacki suffered a fall and grabbed her left hip, leading to an off-court medical timeout.After the timeout, Wozniacki returned to the court but was unable to prevent Svitolina from breaking her serve. The match was then suspended due to darkness.The match will resume on Center Court Tuesday, with Svitolina looking to close out the victory and advance to the next round.