Jelena Ostapenko enjoyed a fantastic week at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, culminating in a victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka. She defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 in the final, securing her ninth WTA Tour title. This win is particularly significant as it is her first on clay since her Roland Garros victory in 2017.
This final in Stuttgart was a crucial match for both players. Sabalenka was aiming for her first Porsche title after losing in three previous finals, while Ostapenko sought her first win against Sabalenka in their fourth encounter. Ultimately, Ostapenko emerged victorious in a dynamic and powerful match. With this win, she will add a second Porsche 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. This victory improves her record against world No. 1 players to 3-1. Her previous wins were against Garbiñe Muguruza at Wuhan 2017 and Iga Swiatek at the 2023 US Open.
Notably, Ostapenko defeated Swiatek in the quarterfinals earlier in the week, marking her sixth win in six matches against the Polish player. She is now the ninth player to defeat both Sabalenka and Swiatek in the same tournament, and the first to achieve this feat on clay since Swiatek became No. 1 in 2021.
Ostapenko`s record for 2025 is now 12-9. She has been particularly successful against Top 10 players this year, with a 4-0 record, including three wins this week. However, her record against players outside the Top 10 is 8-9.
In her career finals, Ostapenko now has a balanced record of nine wins and nine losses, while Sabalenka`s record is 19 wins and 16 losses. Ostapenko stands out as the only active player to have reached finals on all court types: outdoor hard, indoor hard, carpet, grass, green clay, outdoor red clay, and indoor red clay. Among active players, she is one of only three, along with Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova, to hold titles on outdoor hard, indoor hard, grass, outdoor clay, and indoor clay, excluding carpet courts.
How Ostapenko Secured the Win
In their previous three matches, Ostapenko had only won one set against Sabalenka, often losing sets by significant margins. Sabalenka`s strong serve and consistent accuracy had been key factors in those matches.
However, this time, Ostapenko reversed the trend. She dominated on her first serve, winning 81% of those points. She also managed to read Sabalenka`s serve more effectively, limiting Sabalenka to just 53% first-serve points won. This pressure on Sabalenka`s serve allowed Ostapenko to create 11 break point opportunities, converting six, while only facing three break points herself, of which Sabalenka converted two.
Ostapenko demonstrated excellent composure and tactical play. She started aggressively, breaking early to lead 2-0. Sabalenka managed to hold serve and then broke back to level at 4-4. But Ostapenko quickly regained control, breaking again to take a 5-4 lead and then serving out the first set after a tense 57 minutes.
From 4-4 in the first set, Ostapenko won eight of the next nine games. In the second set, Sabalenka struggled, winning only 10 points, with just five on her serve. Ostapenko concluded the match in dominant style, securing a 1-hour, 25-minute victory with consecutive return winners.
Ostapenko`s Thoughts on Her Victory
After her win, Ostapenko shared with the press that she had felt a strong sense of confidence and premonition of victory 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 feel I`m improving and playing better each day. Yes, I think I deserve it.”
This feeling culminated in an impressive performance against a player she had never defeated before.
“I have played her a few times, and I analyzed those matches. I knew what I needed to do differently today,” Ostapenko added. “I think I was more confident and played with more conviction today than in our previous matches.”
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth