Tennis

Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Jelena Ostapenko Gets 1st Career Win Over Aryna Sabalenka In Final

Author photo
By
wendioliveros
Author photo
wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

Get to know wendioliveros better
Sports Editor

Published21 Apr 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.

In less than 90 minutes, Jelena Ostapenko shocked World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka en route to her first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title.

Ostapenko was winless against Sabalenka in three previous tries.  Sabalenka has now lost four finals at Stuttgart: 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Sabalenka has been phenomenal in recent years, managing her serve and emotions on the court, but she struggled to do that on Monday.  She often seemed agitated, with ball marks/calls, a fan behind her at one point in the match, and herself.  She only played three matches in the tournament, including the final, after a first-round bye and withdrawal from her second-round opponent.  This was the beginning of her clay court season, and it is possible that she needed those extra matches to gain her footing.

Tennis fans are happy for Ostapenko, but they do not like to see Sabalenka self-destructing.  A free hitting and happy-go-lucky Sabalenka is what we want to see.

Jelena Ostapenko Had A Big Week

Ostapenko dispatched the World No. 1 and No. 2 in Stuttgart this week.  Defeating Iga Swiatek, whom she has never lost to, was not as big of an accomplishment as dealing with the nerves and the moment to beat Sabalenka.  She played five matches this week.  In addition to the wins over Sabalenka and Swiatek, she also defeated Emma Navarro and Ekaterina Alexandrova, so she came in with confidence.

She is also known for her on-court emotions, but she stayed steady today. When she committed an error, she smiled and tried to shake it off.

The Porsche Prize

Ostapenko won a Porsche, something that Sabalenka has come so close to doing and has yet to accomplish. She reasoned that she had lost her previous three finals to the then World No. 1 players and hoped that since she was World No. 1, her fortune would turn. Look out in 2026, Sabalenka will be coming back to Stuttgart looking for the big prize.