In a stunning upset at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko toppled world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 to capture the WTA title on Monday. The victory marks Ostapenko's ninth career trophy and her first clay-court title since her 2017 French Open triumph.
Unseeded and ranked 24th, Ostapenko stormed through the draw with fearless shot-making, converting her first match point in style. She praised her opponent during the on-court interview: "Sharing the court with you, you're a champion." A playful jab followed: "I'm sure you hate me now because you wanted this car so badly, but don't worry – you'll get it another time."
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, fresh off Australian and US Open victories, has now fallen in four Stuttgart finals over five seasons. Despite her clay struggles, the 26-year-old remains a dominant force across surfaces, eyeing her first red-clay triumph since the 2023 Madrid Open.
For global tennis fans and young sports enthusiasts, Ostapenko's performance is proof that bold strategies and resilience can topple even the highest-ranked rivals, setting an exciting tone as the season shifts into full swing on clay.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
