In an exciting display of tennis action in Stuttgart, Germany, Jelena Ostapenko, an unseeded player from Latvia, surprised everyone by defeating Aryna Sabalenka, who was the top seed, to win the Porsche Grand Prix on Monday. Ostapenko emerged victorious over the world’s No. 1 ranked Sabalenka with a decisive 6-4, 6-1 triumph, claiming the prestigious clay-court title.
During the match, Sabalenka faced challenges as her serve was broken twice in a closely contested first set that spanned just under an hour. The second set saw Ostapenko dominate the court with a swift 6-1 victory in only 28 minutes. Although Ostapenko served four aces compared to Sabalenka’s six, the Latvian aggressively broke Sabalenka’s serve six times. Notably, in the second set, Sabalenka managed to win only 10 points, including just five on her serve. Ostapenko clinched her win, marking her first victory against Sabalenka in their four encounters, with an authoritative forehand return of serve.
Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka, aged 26, boasts an impressive career with three Grand Slam titles and a total of 19 career titles. However, she was striving for her inaugural win at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Unfortunately for Sabalenka, this finalized her fourth defeat in the tournament’s finals. Despite the setback, she remained optimistic saying, “Great week, great tournament. Not for me every year, not for me, but maybe next year,” during the trophy presentation.
Ostapenko’s journey to her ninth career title also included a notable victory over the second seed, Iga Swiatek, in the quarterfinals. Reflecting on her success and the vibrant support from the fans, Ostapenko expressed her gratitude, stating, “Thank you so much for this atmosphere here. It’s amazing. I just love to play here.” At 27, Ostapenko previously achieved tennis glory by winning the French Open in 2017 with her distinctive high-risk, assertive playing style, marked by bold and unpredictable winners. This major win remains a standout in her career, during which she reached a peak global ranking of fifth. She currently holds the 24th position in the rankings.