Ostapenko lifts Stuttgart crown; Swiatek faces tricky path in Madrid Open title defence

Jelena Ostapenko stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win the WTA event in Stuttgart on Monday, securing the ninth title of her career.

Ostapenko, unseeded and ranked 24th in the world heading into the final, won 6-4, 6-1 to win her first title on clay since her 2017 French Open triumph.

The Latvian cruised to victory, converting her first match point to lift her first WTA singles trophy since February last year.

“It’s great to share the court with you -- you’re a champion,” Ostapenko said to Sabalenka in her on-court interview.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka has now lost four finals in Stuttgart in the past five seasons.

“I’m sure you hate me now because you wanted this car so badly, but I’m sure you’ll get it another time,” Ostapenko added of the car tournament winners receive as a bonus prize.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka, who won the 2024 US and Australian Opens, is still waiting for her first tournament victory on clay since the 2023 Madrid Open.

“You were a better player than me, that’s all there is to it,” Sabalenka said.

Ostapenko broke her opponent in the very first game of the match to set the tone.

She did the same in the opening game of the second set, which appeared to break Sabalenka’s resistance, with the Belarusian growing increasingly frustrated.

At one point, Sabalenka fell to the clay, but signalled to her opponent and the umpire that she was not injured.

The tournament win completes an impressive week for Ostapenko in Germany.

She defeated five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, ranked second, in the quarters before a straight-sets victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-finals.

Ostapenko will climb six places in the WTA rankings to 18th after her first win over Sabalenka at the fourth attempt.

Meanwhile, the Madrid Open main draw is out, setting the stage for the first WTA 1000 clay-court event of the season.

Main-draw action begins Tuesday, April 22, with all 32 seeds—who receive first-round byes—starting Thursday, April 24. Notably absent is Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, sidelined by injury.

World No. 2 and defending champion Iga Swiatek sits at the bottom of the draw. She won her first Madrid title last year, saving three championship points to squeak past Sabalenka in the final.

Swiatek could see a familiar face in the second round: surging Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala, who knocked Swiatek out in the Miami quarterfinals. Eala would have to first beat Viktoriya Tomova to set up that rematch.

If Swiatek can get through that area, she could potentially face No. 23 seed Ostapenko in the Round of 16. Ostapenko just beat Swiatek in Stuttgart and holds a perfect 6-0 record in their head-to-head.

Two-time Madrid champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the draw, coming off a strong run to the Stuttgart final. She opens against a qualifier, with a potential Round of 16 clash against Doha champion Amanda Anisimova, who holds a 5-2 record against her.

In the same quarter, No. 9 seed Paula Badosa—still battling back issues—might face one of the Kudermetova sisters, Veronika or Polina, who meet in the first round. No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen, fresh off Olympic gold at Roland Garros, anchors this section.

World No. 3 Jessica Pegula headlines the next quarter and could face Ons Jabeur (No. 26 seed) in a rematch of their 2022 Madrid final. Pegula, the 2024 match-win leader (26), may also run into Stuttgart conqueror Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 16. No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini, No. 10 Elena Rybakina, and in-form Elina Svitolina also loom.

No. 7 seed Mirra Andreeva returns to the site of her breakout run in 2023, looking to add a third WTA 1000 title this year. She could face Zarazua or Bouzkova in round two. At the other end, No. 4 Coco Gauff faces a minefield including Clara Tauson and comeback star Belinda Bencic.

Agencies