When Iga Swiatek, the world’s number one women’s tennis player, secured the first set against Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday night, it appeared to be a routine victory in the making. Iga Swiatek’s Shocking Defeat by Ostapenko
Ostapenko’s Thorn in Swiatek’s Side
Iga Swiatek, a 22-year-old with four Grand Slam titles to her name, was the defending U.S. Open champion and had yet to drop a set in this tournament. However, Ostapenko had consistently proven to be a challenging adversary for Swiatek, boasting an undefeated record against her. This streak extended to four wins for Ostapenko after a hard-fought match that concluded with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Ostapenko’s Comeback in the Second Set
The turning point came in the second set when Ostapenko began asserting control over the match. Swiatek, suddenly out of her comfort zone, sought guidance from her coaching box, but her coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, appeared at a loss for solutions. Swiatek’s frustrated reaction, including a sarcastic clap toward her box, underscored her mounting frustration.
Ostapenko’s Relentless Aggression
Throughout the third set, Ostapenko maintained unrelenting aggression. After the match, she explained, “I had to be aggressive because that’s what she doesn’t really like. I was just fighting until the very last point.”
Iga Swiatek’s Shocking Defeat by Ostapenko
Ostapenko’s Next Challenge: Coco Gauff
Ostapenko’s next challenge will be facing Coco Gauff, the American seeded sixth, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Gauff had recently managed to defeat Swiatek in the semifinals of the Western and Southern Open in Ohio.
Ostapenko vs. Gauff: A Familiar Rivalry
Ostapenko and Gauff have crossed paths twice before, with Ostapenko emerging victorious in their most recent encounter at the Australian Open earlier this year, winning in straight sets. Gauff, however, had won their previous matchup in 2019.
The Road Ahead for Ostapenko and Gauff
The winner of the Ostapenko-Gauff showdown will advance to face the victor of a quarterfinal match between Sorana Cirstea and Karolina Muchova in the semifinals. Cirstea, hailing from Romania, advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting the 15th seed, Belinda Bencic, on Sunday. Meanwhile, Muchova, a finalist in this year’s French Open, reached the quarterfinals with just one set loss in four matches.
A Wide-Open U.S. Open Draw
With Swiatek no longer in the running, the U.S. Open women’s singles draw has become more wide open, offering opportunities for Ostapenko, Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, and Aryna Sabalenka to vie for the title.
Gauff’s Assessment of Ostapenko
Gauff, aware of the challenge ahead, described Ostapenko as a hard-hitting player. “With Jelena, she’s a striker, a ball-striker. I lost to her in the Australian Open this year. She’s unpredictable, to be honest,” Gauff remarked.
Ostapenko’s Focus and Appreciation
For now, Ostapenko remains focused on her upcoming clash with Gauff and is appreciative of her quarterfinal berth in New York. “I will try to focus on myself and enjoy it,” Ostapenko said. “It’s great to be in the quarterfinals, especially here in New York.”
Iga Swiatek’s Shocking Defeat by Ostapenko.