Top Seeds Fall
Wimbledon Contenders Swiatek and Andreeva Suffer Early Exits at Bad Homburg
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Key Points
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Third seed Elina Svitolina withdrew before the quarterfinals due to fitness concerns, with she stated: "It took a little bit more than expected out of my body, so therefore I need a few more days to recover."
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Emma Navarro improved to 6-2 on grass this season, underscoring her strong form on the surface as she moved into the Bad Homburg quarterfinals.
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Andreeva rolled out a table tennis–style trick shot during the match, a notable highlight amid her first grass-season tune-up after winning the French Open.
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Eva Lys, the only German entrant in Bad Homburg, was eliminated in the first round by Emma Navarro, underscoring how local players were faring in the warm-up.
The 2026 Bad Homburg Open lost all three of its top seeds in a single day on June 24, leaving the draw wide open just weeks before Wimbledon. Top seed Iga Swiatek fell to Emma Navarro 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, while second seed Mirra Andreeva — fresh off her French Open title — was beaten by Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-4 in hot conditions, according to NBC Sports.
Third seed Elina Svitolina then withdrew before the quarterfinals, citing exhaustion. "It took a little bit more than expected out of my body, so therefore I need a few more days to recover," she said, per WRAL. The day, quickly dubbed a "shocking statement" for the tour, leaves veterans like Naomi Osaka and Emma Navarro as the surprise contenders to lift the Bad Homburg trophy.
Navarro Dismantles Swiatek With Clinical Serving
Emma Navarro entered the match ranked No. 24 in the world. She left it having beaten the defending Wimbledon champion. The match lasted 2 hours and 5 minutes. Swiatek struggled badly with her serve, hitting 9 double faults. Navarro won 25 of 38 points on Swiatek's second delivery, according to Castanet.
The win pushed Navarro to 6-2 on grass this season — her best-ever run on the surface. She stated her goal was to play "calm and steady" to exploit Swiatek's inconsistency. Navarro next faces Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the quarterfinals. Swiatek, meanwhile, will arrive at Wimbledon without a single grass-court win in 2026.
Andreeva's Grass Debut Ends With a Tough Loss in the Heat
Mirra Andreeva had not played since winning the 2026 French Open — a victory that made her the youngest world No. 5 at age 19. She skipped the Berlin Open to rest. But the strategy did not pay off. Alexandrova beat her cleanly 6-3, 6-4, per Big Rapids News.
Hot conditions appeared to slow Andreeva's movement and rhythm throughout the match. She did produce a table tennis–style trick shot — a highlight on an otherwise tough afternoon. It was her only planned grass-court warm-up before Wimbledon, making the loss a significant blow to her preparation, according to Castanets Kamloops.
Alexandrova Books a Quarterfinal Spot Against Osaka
Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked No. 19, recorded her 10th career win over a Top 5 opponent by beating Andreeva. It was also her first Top 5 win of 2026. She next faces Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals, a match that has quickly become the marquee contest left in the draw, according to NBC Sports.
The Bad Homburg Open carries a prize purse of €1,049,083. With the top three seeds all gone, the remaining field is wide open. Both Osaka and Navarro now have a clear path to the final — and a strong result here could carry serious momentum into Wimbledon, per WRAL.
Swiatek's Rough 2026 Raises Wimbledon Title Defense Questions
Swiatek came to Bad Homburg needing match practice. She had not reached a single final in 2026 before this week. Her Roland Garros run ended in the fourth round. Grass has historically been her toughest surface, even after her 2025 Wimbledon title. Nine double faults against Navarro underlined the concern, according to Castanet.
Some analysts see these early exits as smart body management before Wimbledon — a chance to get five to six days of controlled practice on the grass courts in London. Others see a deeper problem. Either way, the 2026 Bad Homburg draw has sent a clear message: no one is safe on grass this year, per NBC Sports.
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