Iga Swiatek was defeated by Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open in 2023.
In the fourth round of the US Open, Iga Swiatek’s quest to defend her title came to a halt courtesy of an electrifying performance by the powerful-hitting Jelena Ostapenko. The Polish top seed endured a rollercoaster match, ultimately succumbing to the relentless onslaught of the Latvian 20th seed during Sunday night’s intense clash in New York.
Ostapenko’s fearless and aggressive approach proved to be Swiatek’s undoing, as she unleashed an impressive arsenal of 31 winners while forcing Swiatek into a litany of uncharacteristic errors on the court. The match ended with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, and 6-1 in favour of Ostapenko, who had previously claimed her sole major title at the 2017 French Open. Her next challenge would be facing American sixth seed Coco Gauff, setting the stage for another thrilling showdown.
Swiatek’s reign as the women’s world number one, lasting an impressive 75 weeks, was brought to an abrupt halt by this defeat, with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka poised to take her place as the new leader after the US Open.
Reflecting on the match, a surprised Swiatek shared her thoughts, noting the unusual shift in her performance.
Despite Swiatek’s previous struggles against Ostapenko, having lost all three of their previous encounters, the Pole had experienced a transformational 37-match winning streak since their last meeting in February 2022. This remarkable run propelled Swiatek to the top of the WTA rankings, a position she had held firmly until this upset.
The intriguing matchup raised questions about how Swiatek would handle Ostapenko’s powerful game, and the Latvian’s aggressive approach ultimately proved effective. Swiatek, although making a valiant effort to recover in the match, found herself overwhelmed by Ostapenko’s relentless pace and precision.
In the decisive set, Ostapenko continued to bombard Swiatek with a flurry of winners, surging ahead 5-0. While Swiatek managed to avoid a 6-0 scoreline by breaking Ostapenko’s serve, the outcome was inevitable. Ostapenko fittingly secured her victory with another pinpoint forehand winner, securing a break to love and sealing the match.
Reflecting on her triumph, Ostapenko emphasised her determination to fight until the very last point and praised her aggressive approach, recognising that it was essential against a player of Swiatek’s caliber.
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