Iga Swiatek explains her ‘irritated’ look after sixth consecutive defeat Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart
World No. 24 Jelena Ostapenko eked out a win over Iga Swiatek for the sixth consecutive time in her career.
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Jelena Ostapenko, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Biola Solace-Chukwu, Iga Swiatek)
Iga Swiatek shared a cold handshake with Jelena Ostapenko after the Latvian once again registered a victory over her. On Saturday (April 19), the Pole’s bid for her first title of the season ended with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 defeat to Ostapenko in the quarterfinal of the Stuttgart Open.
Swiatek entered the Stuttgart Open to end her trophy drought as she last won a title at the 2024 French Open. Before the European clay swing, Swiatek, although she made deep runs in every tournament she played, was unsuccessful in reaching the final.
Swiatek has never defeated Ostapenko in her career and surprisingly holds a 0-6 head-to-head record over her. Following the defeat, Swiatek, in the press conference, was asked the reason why she, who has defeated almost everyone on the tour, could never beat the 27-year-old.
Did I seem irritated today? It was a close match, and I had my chances. The other times we faced each other, I could barely do anything because she was playing all the shots, taking huge risks. This time, I felt that I was the one in control at times, but I lost some intensity in the third set, and that ended up being fatal.
Iga Swiatek said
It was Ostapenko’s first victory over Swiatek on clay. She has registered wins over the 23-year-old on every surface. Before Stuttgart, Ostapenko beat Swiatek four times on hard court and once on grass. Swiatek arrived in Stuttgart with an 11-1 win-loss record in the tournament.
She is the winner of two Stuttgart Open titles, lifting the WTA 500 title in 2022 and defending it the following season. She beat Aryna Sabalenka in both the finals. In 2024, however, eventual winner Elena Rybakina knocked her out in the semifinals.
Iga Swiatek reveals the difference between matches she played against Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart and Doha
Prior to the Stuttgart Open, Iga Swiatek met Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinal of the Qatar Open. Swiatek was bidding to win her fourth consecutive title in Doha, but Ostapenko ruined her plans, beating her in straight sets. In the press conference in Stuttgart, Swiatek was asked to describe the two matches she played this year against the 2017 Roland Garros champion.
I think my head was much more clear, and I was looking for solutions and I found them. Even though I started being a little bit tense, you know, in the first set, I managed to recover well and that was the difference.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
Swiatek will next be gearing up for the Madrid Open, which she won for the first time in her career last year by saving three championship points against Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The five-time Grand Slam champion lifted three of her five titles of the 2024 season on clay, including her fourth French Open.
Jelena Ostapenko could meet Aryna Sabalenka in the Stuttgart Open final
Ostapenko has now scheduled the semifinal match against Ekaterina Alexandrova, who knocked out World No.3 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals and Mirra Andreeva in the last 16. Both Ostapenko and Alexandrova have won five matches each against each other. Ostapenko, the winner of eight singles titles, is searching for her first one of the season.
If she reaches the final, she could schedule a match against Aryna Sabalenka, who will be facing two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals. Although Ostapenko has registered six wins against Iga Swiatek, she was never successful in clinching the victory over the three-time Grand Slam singles champion. The Belarusian last met Ostapenko in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Italian Open.
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