Jelena Ostapenko achieved a remarkable victory at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, overcoming the top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6-4, 6-1 in the final. This win marks her ninth career title on the Hologic WTA Tour and her first on clay since her Roland Garros triumph in 2017.
For Sabalenka, this final was another attempt to win her first Porsche in Stuttgart after three previous losses in the title match. Conversely, Ostapenko was aiming for her first ever win against Sabalenka in their fourth encounter. Ultimately, Ostapenko emerged victorious in a dynamic and powerful match, earning herself a second Porsche to add to her collection, alongside the Cayenne Turbo she already owns.
Key Stats from Ostapenko`s Victory
Ostapenko, currently ranked No. 24, ended Miami champion Sabalenka`s eight-match winning streak and improved her record against World No. 1 players to 3-1. Her previous victories include wins against Garbiñe Muguruza at Wuhan 2017 and Iga Swiatek at the 2023 US Open.
Having also defeated Swiatek in the quarterfinals this week, Ostapenko became the ninth player to defeat both Sabalenka and Swiatek in the same tournament, and the sixth to do so since Swiatek became No. 1 in 2021. Notably, she is the first to achieve this feat on clay.
Ostapenko`s record for 2025 now stands at 12-9. She boasts a 4-0 record against Top 10 players this year, including three wins this week, and an 8-9 record against players ranked outside the Top 10.
Her overall record in finals is now balanced at nine wins and nine losses, while Sabalenka`s is 19 wins and 16 losses. Ostapenko is uniquely the only active player to have reached finals on outdoor hard court, indoor hard court, carpet, grass, green clay, outdoor red clay, and indoor red clay. Among all players, active and retired, only Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and Dinara Safina have achieved this feat. Excluding the now-defunct carpet surface, Ostapenko is one of only three active players with titles on outdoor hard court, indoor hard court, grass, outdoor clay, and indoor clay, alongside Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova.
How Ostapenko Secured the Win Against Sabalenka
In their previous three matches, Ostapenko had only managed to win one set against Sabalenka, often losing sets by significant margins. Sabalenka`s strong serve and consistent accuracy were usually decisive factors.
However, this time, the tide turned. Ostapenko dominated her first serve, winning 81% of those points, and read Sabalenka`s serve more effectively than before. Sabalenka won just 53% of her first-serve points. This allowed Ostapenko to apply consistent pressure on Sabalenka`s serve, creating 11 break points and converting six, while only facing three break points herself, of which Sabalenka converted two.
Ostapenko also demonstrated excellent composure and tactical play. She started aggressively, quickly breaking for a 2-0 lead with a series of winners. Despite Sabalenka`s efforts to level the score at 4-4, Ostapenko regained control, breaking again for 5-4 and then serving out the first set after 57 minutes.
From 4-4 in the first set, Ostapenko won eight of the next nine games. In the second set, Sabalenka only won 10 points, with just five on her serve. Ostapenko concluded the match in dominant fashion, securing a 1-hour, 25-minute victory with consecutive return winners.
Ostapenko`s Reflections on Her Week
Following her victory, Ostapenko shared with the press that she had a strong feeling of winning from the moment she arrived in Stuttgart.
“Honestly, I didn`t tell anyone, but I felt very confident from the first day,” she said. “I had a strange, but good feeling. When I arrived here, I felt like something good was going to happen this week. I pretty much felt that I could win this tournament because I think I`m improving day by day and playing better and better. Yes, I think I deserve it.”
This feeling culminated in a spectacular performance against an opponent she had never defeated before.
“Obviously, I played her a few times, and I analyzed those matches. I knew what I had to do differently today,” Ostapenko explained. “I think I was more confident and a more complete player today than in our previous matches.”
Rupert Caldwell