Iga Swiatek Shines On Clay In Stuttgart Debut Under New Coach Francisco Roig

Last Updated:April 16, 2026, 11:21 IST

Iga Swiatek wins Stuttgart opener over Laura Siegemund in straight sets under new coach Francisco Roig, Mirra Andreeva upsets defending champion Jelena Ostapenko

Iga Swiatek cruised to a straight-sets victory over Laura Siegemund on Wednesday in Stuttgart in her opening match of the clay-court season and her first under new coach Francisco Roig.

The former world number one, whose previous outing ended in a surprise early exit against compatriot Magda Linette at the Miami Open last month, saw off home hope Siegemund 6-2, 6-3 in the last 16.

Swiatek parted ways with Wim Fissette following her second-round loss in Miami before linking up with Roig, who was part of Rafael Nadal’s coaching team for many years.

The six-time Grand Slam champion has struggled for form so far this season, failing to reach a semi-final.

But Swiatek looked at home back on clay, the surface on which she has won 10 WTA titles, including four French Open trophies, as she comfortably swept aside Siegemund.

The Pole, who received a first-round bye as the third seed, broke serve five times in total, with Siegemund never threatening an upset.

Who Will She Face Next?

Swiatek will face either Alycia Parks or Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.

Andreeva claimed a battling 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win in the first round to eliminate reigning champion Jelena Ostapenko.

After winning the 500-level event in Linz last week, the world number nine has started her clay-court season in fine form.

Andreeva raced into a 2-0 lead in the round-of-32 match in Germany, before Ostapenko clawed her way back to level.

But the 18-year-old immediately regained the initiative by breaking in the fifth game to edge ahead once more.

The Russian faltered at the last, though, as back-to-back double faults when serving for the opening set at 5-4 and deuce let Ostapenko back in.

Ostapenko took full advantage of that reprieve by winning the next two games to claim the set, sealing it with a brutal cross-court backhand winner on Andreeva’s serve.

Andreeva hit back by breaking the Latvian in the third game of the second set.

Despite another untimely double fault at deuce when serving for the set, Andreeva held her nerve this time to close it out and force a decider.

After exchanging breaks early in the third set, Andreeva pounced on Ostapenko’s serve to move ahead 5-4, sealing victory in her first-ever meeting with the 2017 Roland Garros champion.

American Parks defeated Germany’s Noma Noha Akugue in straight sets.

Earlier, fifth seed Jasmine Paolini slumped to a first-round 6-2, 6-2 defeat against world number 79 Zeynep Sonmez.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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