Jelena Ostapenko delivers a crushing 6-4, 6-1 victory over Aryna Sabalenka to win Stuttgart

In a stunning display of power and precision, Jelena Ostapenko dismantled world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 to claim the Stuttgart clay-court title — her first singles trophy of the year. The Latvian’s victory sent shockwaves through the tennis world, as she dominated her higher-ranked opponent with an aggressive baseline game that left Sabalenka floundering.

Ostapenko, unseeded in the tournament, showed little sign of nerves despite the pressure. From the moment the match began, she dictated the play with powerful forehands and a ruthless attitude. In stark contrast, Sabalenka struggled, particularly with her first serve, which faltered throughout the contest.

The 24th-ranked Ostapenko, who had already stunned world number two Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, came out firing in the opening set. She broke Sabalenka in the very first game, a signal of things to come. The Belarusian briefly fought back, earning a break at 4-3, but was quickly broken again, as Ostapenko clinched the first set 6-4.

“I think you hate me now because you wanted this car so bad,” Ostapenko quipped in her post-match interview, referring to a luxury sports car being awarded to the winner of the tournament. With a grin, she added, “Congrats, Aryna, on a great week,” before thanking the crowd for creating such a memorable atmosphere.

The second set was nothing short of a masterclass from the Latvian. After a couple of early breaks, Ostapenko unleashed an unstoppable series of winners. She won 16 of the next 18 points, taking advantage of Sabalenka’s ongoing service struggles. By the time she reached a 5-1 lead, it was clear the match was slipping away from the world number one.

Sabalenka’s frustrations boiled over as she made several unforced errors, struggling to find her rhythm. With Ostapenko sitting on match point, the final blow came. A sensational cross-court forehand winner on a second serve sealed the match, and the Latvian claimed the title in style.

This victory marks Ostapenko’s first clay-court title since her 2017 French Open triumph, and the win sets her up perfectly for the upcoming Grand Slam in Paris. For Sabalenka, the loss was her fourth final defeat on Stuttgart’s clay courts, after previous losses in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Despite her poor service game, Sabalenka offered little resistance to Ostapenko’s blistering onslaught. She had no answers for the Latvian’s explosive forehands and relentless pressure, and the result will likely serve as a wake-up call ahead of the French Open.

For Ostapenko, the triumph could be a turning point in her 2025 season. Not only does she leave Stuttgart with her first singles title of the year, but she also earns a valuable boost in confidence. As the tennis world looks ahead to the French Open, Ostapenko will be hoping this victory marks the beginning of a successful clay-court campaign.