Jelena Ostapenko delivered a near-flawless performance to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Easter Monday. The 27-year-old Latvian won the match 6-4, 6-1 and took home her ninth career title—and a brand-new Porsche Macan Turbo.
It was Ostapenko’s first victory in Stuttgart and only her second title on clay. The first came in 2017, when she won the French Open.
She sealed the win in just 85 minutes, smashing a forehand winner on match point in front of 4,200 fans. It marked a special moment in her seventh appearance at the tournament, where she had never advanced past the quarterfinals before. “I love playing here,” she said during the trophy ceremony. “It really was a perfect week for me.”
Ostapenko, now ranked world No. 18, controlled the match from the first game. Her aggressive baseline play kept Sabalenka on the defensive. The Belarusian star, a three-time Grand Slam champion, could not find her rhythm and had to settle for runner-up—again. She also lost in the Stuttgart final in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
“I didn’t play my best tennis on the big points,” Sabalenka admitted. “In the end, Jelena was just too good. I’ve lost a lot of close finals. Learn the lesson, move on—that’s my plan. I’ll try to do better next year.”
Ostapenko’s road to the title included wins over US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro and two-time Stuttgart champion Iga Swiatek. “From the first day, I had a strange but good feeling that something special could happen here,” said Ostapenko. “I think I’ve earned it.”
At the awards ceremony, Albrecht Reimold of Porsche AG handed her both the winner’s trophy and the keys to the Porsche Macan Turbo.
Tournament Director Markus Günthardt praised the event’s success, highlighting the attendance of 33,000 fans and the high level of play. “It was a fantastic tournament week,” he said. “We believe we delivered added value both in terms of tennis and overall experience.” Operating Tournament Director Anke Huber added, “It may have been the best tennis we’ve ever seen here.”
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