Iga Swiatek Opens Up About Her Rivalries with Jelena Ostapenko and Aryna Sabalenka
In a recent interview with The Tennis Gazette, Iga Swiatek discussed her contrasting experiences of playing against Jelena Ostapenko and Aryna Sabalenka. The Polish tennis star was knocked out of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart by Ostapenko, continuing a one-sided rivalry between the two players.
According to The Tennis Gazette, Swiatek has struggled against Ostapenko in the past, with the Latvian player securing six consecutive victories over the Polish star. In their latest encounter, Swiatek admitted to making mistakes, particularly in the third set, which ultimately led to her downfall. As The Tennis Gazette reported, Ostapenko’s powerful game caused Swiatek problems, with the Latvian player hitting 10 winners compared to nine unforced errors.
In contrast, Swiatek has a much more favourable head-to-head record against world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. As noted by The Tennis Gazette, Swiatek has won 67% of their 12 meetings, including five of their six encounters on clay. When asked about the differences between the two players, Swiatek highlighted their distinct approaches to the game. "I mean, there are many differences," she said, as quoted by The Tennis Gazette. "Aryna plays a little bit more logical and she spins the ball, so it’s not like she smashes out of control. Jelena plays much more risky and with less spin, so, yeah, there are many differences."
Swiatek’s observations are supported by Ostapenko’s inconsistent form in 2025, where she has won only 10 of her 19 matches. However, in their Stuttgart quarter-final match, Ostapenko was more accurate, with The Tennis Gazette reporting that she hit 10 winners compared to nine unforced errors. Swiatek, on the other hand, struggled to find her rhythm, hitting only three winners compared to 12 unforced errors.
The head-to-head records between Swiatek and her two rivals make for interesting reading. As The Tennis Gazette pointed out, Ostapenko leads the head-to-head 6-0, while Swiatek has a significant advantage over Sabalenka, leading 8-4. On clay, Swiatek has a particularly strong record against Sabalenka, winning five of their six meetings.
Sabalenka remains in the running for the Stuttgart title, having reached the semi-finals once again. Both Ostapenko and Sabalenka will look to progress to the final later today, when they face Ekaterina Alexandrova and Jasmine Paolini, respectively. As The Tennis Gazette noted, Swiatek’s exit from the tournament marks a significant blow to her clay court campaign, but she will look to bounce back in future competitions.
In conclusion, Iga Swiatek’s experiences of playing Jelena Ostapenko and Aryna Sabalenka have been vastly different, with the Polish star struggling against the Latvian player while enjoying a more favourable record against the world number one. As The Tennis Gazette reported, Swiatek’s contrasting performances against her two rivals highlight the complexities of her game and the challenges she faces in the competitive world of women’s tennis.
The source of this article is: The Tennis Gazette.
