Iga Swiatek is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown in Stuttgart—and she’s not leaving anything to chance.
The World No. 1 and two-time defending Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion is making tactical moves both on and off the court as she prepares to face her biggest kryptonite: Jelena Ostapenko.
After breezing past qualifier Jana Fett 6-2, 6-2 in just 76 minutes, Swiatek booked her spot in the quarterfinals, setting the stage for a headline clash with Ostapenko—a player who has defeated her in all five of their previous encounters.
But this time, the Polish star is approaching the challenge with sharp focus. She was spotted courtside alongside coach Wim Fissette, intently studying Ostapenko’s second-round battle against Emma Navarro. The Latvian powered through in three sets after dispatching Dayana Yastremska earlier in the tournament.
While Swiatek may be the higher seed and a fan favorite in Stuttgart, history isn’t on her side. Their head-to-head is a lopsided 5-0 in Ostapenko’s favor, including a commanding victory in the semifinals of the 2025 Qatar Open and a stunner at the 2023 US Open.
Still, Swiatek’s track record on clay—and in Stuttgart—is unmatched. She lifted the trophy in 2022 and 2023, both times defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Now, with a potential semifinal against Jessica Pegula or Ekaterina Alexandrova on the line, she’s looking to rewrite her narrative against Ostapenko.
With tactical tweaks, a watchful eye, and a hunger to flip the script, Swiatek enters the quarterfinal with fire—and possibly, a plan to finally crack the Ostapenko code.
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