Jelena Ostapenko shocked world number one Aryna Sabalenka to win the Stuttgart Open with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Ostapenko, who had never won against Sabalenka in their previous three meetings, started strong by breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the first game and maintained pressure throughout the match.
Sabalenka struggled, getting broken again in the second set’s opening game and making several mistakes, including two more breaks of serve.
Ostapenko finished the match in style, winning five games in a row to seal the victory.
“I’m really happy today,” Ostapenko said after the match. She also praised Sabalenka, saying, “It’s great to share the court with you, you are such a great champion.”
Ostapenko, 27, also defeated world number two Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.
This victory marks her ninth WTA title and her first on clay since winning the French Open in 2017.
Sabalenka, 26, was competing in her fourth Stuttgart Open final. She had previously lost to Ash Barty in 2021 and to Swiatek in both 2022 and 2023.
“Congrats to Jelena for an amazing week. You played better than me today, and that’s it,” said Sabalenka.
“It’s not my year every time, but maybe next year,” she added.
