World No 1 Iga Swiatek beat Aryna Sabalenka within the remaining of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart for the second yr operating to assert her second title of 2023.
Swiatek, again from a rib damage that compelled her to overlook the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, defeated the world No 2 6-3 6-4 so as to add to her event victory in Qatar in February.
Swiatek broke Sabalenka at 4-3 up within the opening set on Sunday after which broke her opponent once more within the first recreation of the second set earlier than occurring to clinch the thirteenth title of her profession – and a brand new Porsche.
The 21-year-old will defend the French Open title at Roland Garros between Might 28 and June 11, having received that Grand Slam for a second time in 2022 after a primary triumph in Paris two years earlier.
The Polish participant mentioned: “I need to thank my crew as a result of it has been such an intense time. I’m so glad we’re making the appropriate choices.
“It’s a fairly thrilling time. I shall be coming again as a result of I like this event.
“Congrats Aryna for the whole lot, you have had such a tremendous season. I am actually glad that we’re so constant and might play so many wonderful matches collectively as a result of I feel followers are having fun with it.”
Sabalenka has now misplaced within the final three Porsche Tennis Grand Prix finals along with her back-to-back defeats to Swiatek preceded by a three-set reverse to the now-retired Ashleigh Barty in 2021.
The Belarusian mentioned: “Can we make a deal that if I make one other remaining I simply get an additional automobile?
“I actually take pleasure in taking part in right here – not that a lot proper now as a result of I misplaced in a 3rd remaining, it hurts. However it’s an important event. I’ll maintain coming again till I get the automobile.”