Jelena Ostapenko reveals the ‘secret’ weapon she will use to beat Iga Swiatek for the sixth time in Stuttgart

Jelena Ostapenko has defeated Iga Swiatek five consecutive times, including her victory against the World No.2 in Qatar.

Jelena Ostapenko reveals the ‘secret’ weapon she will use to beat Iga Swiatek for the sixth time in Stuttgart

Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko (via X)

Only a few players are more dominant than Iga Swiatek in the WTA circuit. Despite having a poor 2025 season by her standards, the Pole has an outstanding 22-6 win-loss record this season. However, she faces Jelena Ostapenko, who has beaten her five consecutive times, this time at the Stuttgart Open. The Latvian shared her secret to making it six straight wins.

Swiatek has not won any title since last June at the French Open. The World No.2 has failed to defend the Qatar Open and Indian Wells earlier this season. But she has been a dominant force on clay. In fact, she’s the only active player to have more than 100 clay career wins and four Roland Garros.

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Ahead of her meeting against Ostapenko in Stuttgart, Swiatek is the least favorite to win the match due to her 0-5 head-to-head record against the Latvian. They met at the Qatar Open earlier this year, where Ostapenko ousted her 6-3, 6-1. Nonetheless, this will be their first meeting on clay, which makes it a significant match.

After Ostapenko defeated Emma Navarro on Thursday (April 18) to reach the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open, she was asked how she would defeat Swiatek. The former French Open champion revealed she would stay aggressive and focused for the entirety of the match.

I just have to do what I have to do: Stay aggressive and play my game. I’m always ready for a battle against great players. I mean, she’s a great player. Yeah, I just need to focus more on what I have to do.

Jelena Ostapenko said via Stuttgart Open Press

Despite the season being very far from over, Swiatek’s tie against Ostapenko may prove to be the most significant match of the season. If the latter does well to extend it to 6-0, it might affect Swiatek’s progress, but if she does earn her first win over the Latvian, it will be a big boost ahead of the French Open.

Jelena Ostapenko excited to reach her first Stuttgart Open quarter-finals since 2018

Jelena Ostapenko played one of her best tennis of the season to overcome World No.11 Emma Navarro 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and eighteen minutes. It was the 27-year-old third Top 20 win of the season. Despite coming into the match as second favorite, she was the best player on the court and converted six of her nine break points. She revealed that she kept fighting for every point in the match.

Jelena Ostapenko (via X/Tennis Channel)

She’s a great player. It was hard to play against her, because she’s like not missing a lot of balls since she’s very consistent. I was fighting until the very last point.

Jelena Ostapenko said

Ostapenko is in her first Stuttgart Open quarter-finals since 2018. The Latvian has not won any title this season but enjoyed her best run of the season at the Qatar Open, where she finished as runners-up.

Previous encounters of Jelena Ostapenko vs. Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek will fancy her chance to end her losing streak against Jelena Ostapenko for the first time in her career. The Pole star has been the dominant force on clay during this decade in the women’s circuit and her performance at the Stuttgart Open has been flawless. This is her fourth appearance at the WTA 500 event and she has never failed to make the quarter-finals.

Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek (via WTA)

Perhaps this is the kind of record that Swiatek needs to give her confidence against Ostapenko. She has often played into the Latvian’s trap each time they faced and it was self-evident in their last meeting in Qatar. The World No.1 kept hitting down the baseline of Ostapenko, which has always been her strength as she plays aggressively.

Swiatek will hope to explore drop shots and explosive backhand techniques that will make life difficult for opponents on the court. However, it’s not going to be an easy match for the World No.2 as Ostapenko fully understands her style of tennis.