Ostapenko defeats Sabalenka for first time to claim Stuttgart title

Jelena Ostapenko completed a dream week at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix by taking down No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 in the final to claim her ninth career Hologic WTA Tour title — and first on clay since winning Roland Garros in 2017.

Stuttgart: Draws Scores | Order of play

The fourth time would be the charm either way in the Stuttgart final: either Sabalenka would drive off with her much-coveted first Porsche after three previous losses in the title match, or Ostapenko would post her first win over Sabalenka at the fourth attempt. In the event, it was the Latvian who came out on top of a pulsating, hard-hitting battle — and she will add a second Porsche to the Cayenne Turbo she already drives at home.

No. 24-ranked Ostapenko, who ended Miami champion Sabalenka’s eight-match losing streak, improved to 3-1 overall against reigning World No. 1s. She previously defeated Garbiñe Muguruza at Wuhan 2017 and Iga Swiatek at the 2023 US Open. Having also ousted Swiatek in the quarterfinals this week, Ostapenko became the ninth player to defeat both Sabalenka and Swiatek in the same tournament, sixth since Swiatek first rose to No. 1 and first to do so on clay.

More to come…

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