Ostapenko Stuns Sabalenka to Win Stuttgart Open
Jelena Ostapenko beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.
The Latvian star won 6-4, 6-1 to claim her ninth WTA title and her first on clay since lifting the French Open trophy in 2017.
Ostapenko, 27, had never beaten Sabalenka in their previous three matches, but she started strong by breaking her serve in the first game and kept the momentum going.
Sabalenka, 26, struggled throughout and made several errors. She was broken again at the start of the second set and twice more before Ostapenko sealed the win by taking five games in a row.
“I’m really happy today,” Ostapenko said after the match. She praised Sabalenka, saying: “It is great to share the court with you. You are such a great champion.”
Sabalenka, who also lost the Stuttgart final in 2021, 2022 and 2023, accepted defeat gracefully.
“Congratulations Jelena on a great week. You were the better player today, and that’s it,” she said. “It’s not for me every year here, but maybe next year.”
Earlier in the tournament, Ostapenko also beat world number two Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.
