By Tennis Now | Saturday, April 13, 2019
Veteran experience vs. youthful exuberance in the Lugano final as 28-year-old Polona Hercog takes on 17-year-old Iga Swiatek.
Photo credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images Asia
Tennis transit can provide wildly different routes to a desired destination.
Polona Hercog fought into the Lugano final, while Polish teenager Iga Swiatek flew there.
More: Adidas Launches Clay Collection
The 17-year-old Swiatek needed just 54 minutes to dismiss a weary Kristyna Pliskova, 6-0, 6-1 and soar into her first WTA final.
The left-handed Czech, drained by her 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 quarterfinal conquest of Svetlana Kuznetsova yesterday, lacked the legs to offer much resistance.
The 28-year-old Hercog opened today's play powering into her first final in a year with a fierce 7-5, 6-4, victory over Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro.
Hercog, who knocked off second-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro in her three-set opener, is playing for her third career title and first since she successfully defended Bastad nearly seven years ago.
When Hercog won her last title, Swiatek was just 11 years old.
Swiatek ripped 28 winners against 13 unforced errors, tormenting Pliskova with the drop shot at times.
The world No. 115 charged out to a 6-0, 3-0 lead before Pliskova finally stopped the bleeding.
The Wimbledon junior champion made quick work of Pliskova after going the distance to defeat third-seeded Viktoria Kuzmova and eighth-seeded Vera Lapko in succession.
"I feel great. I'm quite surprised that I'm in the final, because that was my first tournament that I played in main draw, but I'm really happy that I made it," Swiatek told WTA Tennis.com. "I was believing in myself, and I hope tomorrow will be a great match also."