Jelena Ostapenko has claimed her first WTA clay court title in nearly eight years after upsetting top seed Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
The Latvian world No.24 battled her way to a 6-4, 6-1, triumph in what is her first-ever win over Sabalenka on the Tour after losing to her three times in a row. Ostapenko hit 21 winners against eight unforced errors and broke the world No.1 six times. It is the fifth time she has won a WTA 500 event and her first since Linz last year.
“Thank you so much for this atmosphere here. It’s amazing. I just love to play here,” Ostapenko said to the crowd during the trophy ceremony.
“Congrats Aryna on a great week. I think you hate me now because you wanted this car (a Porsche sports car the Stuttgart champion receives) so badly but I’m sure you will get it another time.
“It’s great to share the court with you. You’re such a champion.”
Despite being the underdog on paper, Ostapenko illustrated on the court how to dismantle the game of the world’s highest-ranked player. Something that she also did earlier in the tournament against the world’s second-highest-ranked player, Iga Swiatek, in the quarter-finals. After breaking at the start of the match, she surged to a 4-2 lead over Sabalenka before getting pegged back. However, Ostapenko struck once again by breaking for a chance to close the opening set out, which she did after converting her third set point opportunity.
Gaining momentum, Ostapenko dominated large parts of the second set that at one stage saw her win 10 points in a row. Impressively, she broke Sabalenka four consecutive times to seal victory in just under 90 minutes.
“Thanks to my team for always supporting me on the good and bad days. It’s not always easy with me but thank you so much for being by my side,” Ostapenko commented.
Ostapenko’s triumph extended Sabalenka’s wait for a maiden title in Stuttgart. It is the fourth time she has finished runner-up at the tournament in five appearances. The other players to have beaten her in the final were Ash Barty in 2021 and then Swiatek twice in 2022 and 2023.
“I want to congratulate her team on a great week,” Sabalenka said of Ostapenko.
“You played really great this week and you were a better player today than me.
“Enjoy driving this beautiful car. I’m glad I can afford this car. After this final, I’m going to go and order one because I guess this is the only way for me.”
27-year-old Ostapenko is the first player to defeat the world No.1 and No.2 at the same clay court tournament en route to the title since Serena Williams at the 2012 Madrid Open. She is also the first player to defeat both Sabalenka and Swiatek at a single WTA event on clay.
