Iga Swiatek survives thriller in Seoul to claim 25th career title

Iga Swiątek captured her milestone 25th WTA title in dramatic fashion on Sunday, rallying past Ekaterina Alexandrova 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 in a rollercoaster final at the WTA 500 Korea Open.

The 24-year-old Pole, who now owns three titles in 2025, became the first player born in the 2000s—male or female—to reach 25 tour-level crowns. She joins Carlos Alcaraz (23) and Jannik Sinner (20) atop the list of next-generation champions.

Yet for much of the two-hour, 43-minute contest at Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center, it seemed unlikely the milestone would come here.

Alexandrova, the No. 2 seed, dominated the opening set in just 31 minutes, striking eight winners to three unforced errors and repeatedly overwhelming Swiątek with first-strike tennis.

The Russian continued to dictate in the second, twice forcing Swiątek to serve to stay in the match at 4-5 and 5-6. Each time the world No. 2 was two points from defeat, but she clawed back to force a tiebreak and seized it with a series of precise returns.

The decider followed a similar script. Alexandrova surged ahead 3-1, then earned two break points at 4-all that would have allowed her to serve for the title.

Swiątek held firm again, and with her resilience beginning to tilt momentum, broke Alexandrova in the final game. On match point, she ripped a forehand crosscourt winner to seal one of the grittiest victories of her career.

Statistically, the Russian did nearly everything better: more aces (6-2), fewer double faults (6-9), a higher first-serve percentage (59% to 53%), more winners (30-23), and even more total points (108-97).

Swiątek was broken five times and often looked on the back foot. But when it mattered most, the six-time Grand Slam champion’s composure told.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I won it because you were playing great and I just tried to stay alive,” Swiątek said afterwards, paying tribute to Alexandrova. “Hopefully we’re going to play more finals because it’s always tough against you—but it’s also entertaining.”

The win was her 57th of the season, moving her ahead of Aryna Sabalenka (56) for the most victories on the women’s tour in 2025. Only Carlos Alcaraz, with 61, has more among all players this year.

For Swiątek, the triumph also carried a personal connection. Her father, Tomasz, a former Olympic rower, competed at the 1988 Seoul Games.

“I’m happy that I could win here because of the family history,” she said. “My dad couldn’t win the Olympics [here], but at least I won this tournament. So hopefully he’s going to come next year to enjoy everything.”

Already a Wimbledon champion and Cincinnati winner earlier this year, swiątek improved her remarkable record in finals to 25-5. This latest one, earned the hard way, might rank among the most memorable.