Jelena Ostapenko Stuns Aryna Sabalenka To Win Stuttgart Final
Unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko won her first clay-court title in nearly eight years after a shock 6-4, 6-1 victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Monday's Porsche Grand Prix final in Stuttgart.
Ostapenko, who last won a title on clay by clinching the 2017 French Open crown, also recorded her first-ever win over Sabalenka in four meetings.
With the victory, the Latvian jumped six places to No. 18 in the WTA rankings.
'I'm really, really happy with my performance in general this week,' Ostapenko said. "I was ready to play every single player because the draw here is so small. You have to be ready for the best, and I did that.
'I think the game was already very good but I have been working on my mental stuff. I understand what I have to do now. I believe in myself.'
Ostapenko defeated two seeded players on her way to the finale, knocking out seventh-seeded Emma Navarro in three sets in the round of 16 and second-seeded clay-court specialist Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.
She then capped off a memorable week in Stuttgart by beating Sabalenka in straight sets for her first singles title of the year, and ninth overall.
"Honestly, I didn't tell to anyone, I was keeping it to myself, but I felt very confident since the first day," Ostapenko told reporters. "I had, like, strange -- not strange but in a good way, strange feeling.
'When I came here, I felt like something is going to happen this week. I pretty much felt that I can win this tournament. Because I think I'm improving day by day and I'm playing better and better. Yeah, I think I deserve it."
The 27-year-old Ostapenko showed fierce baseline power and broke top-ranked Sabalenka six times during the match, including twice in the first set, as the Belarusian struggled with her first serve throughout.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka has now lost four Stuttgart finals in the past five seasons.
"I'm sure you hate me now because you wanted this car so badly, but I'm sure you'll get it another time," Ostapenko said about Porsche, the luxury car that tournament winners receive as a bonus prize.
Ostapenko will add a second Porsche to the Cayenne Turbo she already drives at home.
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