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Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Beats Vekic to Win San Diego Title

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at on October 16, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at on October 16, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Beats Vekic to Win San Diego Title

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at on October 16, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at on October 16, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek overcame a challenge from qualifier Donna Vekic on Sunday to win the San Diego Open title with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory.

Swiatek earned her tour-leading 64th victory of the season heading into the WTA Finals that begin Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. The event features the tour’s top eight singles and doubles teams.

The 21-year-old won the French Open and US Open earlier this year.

“I’ve worked hard with my coach and my psychologist to keep focused on those moments that make it easier to close the match,” Swiatek said. “I just wanted to be proactive in making my shots.”

Speaking in her native Polish, Swiatek thanked the vocal Polish contingent that exhorted her with chants of “Iga! Iga!”

“I wanted to be the one who hit the last ball in, use my patience more and not think too much,” said Swiatek, who ascended to world No. 1 some seven months ago following the surprise retirement of Australia’s Ash Barty.

Swiatek was awarded a winner’s check of $116,340 along with a yellow surfboard.

After Vekic won the second set, Swiatek left no doubt about her dominance in the final set with her array of topspin cross-court forehands and looping shots that flustered her tiring opponent.

“I managed to win the second set, but in the third I just hit the Iga wall,” said Vekic, who came into the first-year WTA event as an unseeded qualifier, winning seven matches in eight days.

“She played out of this world,” the Croatian added. “She showed why she’s definitely the best player in the world right now.”

An unlikely finalist, Vekic, ranked 77th, reached the finals only a few hours before her match with Swiatek, claiming a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (2) semifinal win over unseeded Danielle Collins of the US.

Spread over two days due to Saturday night’s two lengthy rain delays, the Vekic-Collins match totaled three hours, including Sunday’s 32-minute finish. Collins re-started with a 4-2 edge in the third set, but Vekic battled back to earn the finals berth.

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Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Replaces Line Judges with Technology

(FILE) - A line judge follows the action on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2016 (re-issued 09 October 2024). EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
(FILE) - A line judge follows the action on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2016 (re-issued 09 October 2024). EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
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Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Replaces Line Judges with Technology

(FILE) - A line judge follows the action on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2016 (re-issued 09 October 2024). EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
(FILE) - A line judge follows the action on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2016 (re-issued 09 October 2024). EPA/HANNAH MCKAY

Wimbledon is replacing line judges with electronic line-calling, the latest step into the modern age by the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament.
The All England Club announced Wednesday that technology will be used to give the “out” and “fault” calls at the championships from 2025, eliminating the need for human officials to make them, The Associated Press reported.
Wimbledon organizers said the decision to adopt live electronic line calling was made following extensive testing at the 2024 tournament and “builds on the existing ball-tracking and line-calling technology that has been in place for many years.”
“We consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating,” said Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club. “For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.”
The move makes the French Open the only Grand Slam tournament without some form of electronic line-calling. The Australian Open and US Open already had eliminated line judges and only have chair umpires on court.
Line judges at Wimbledon were dressed in famously elegant uniforms and, for traditionalists, were part of the furniture at the All England Club.
Bolton said Wimbledon had a responsibility to “balance tradition and innovation.”
“Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at the championships for many decades,” she said, "and we recognize their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
Line-calling technology has long been used at Wimbledon and other tennis tournaments to call whether serves are in or out.
At the US Open, there has been no line judges — and only chair umpires — since 2021, with Hawk-Eye Live electronic line-calling used for all courts.
The All England Club also said Wednesday that the women's and men’s singles finals will be scheduled to take place at the later time of 4 p.m. local time on the second Saturday and Sunday, respectively — and after doubles finals on those days.
Bolton said the moves have been made to ensure the day of the finals "builds towards the crescendo of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals, with our champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience.”