Jelena Ostapenko shares how she truly feels about Iga Swiatek after beating her yet again at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

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Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko is on the hunt for her first WTA title of the year in Stuttgart.

The 2017 French Open champion lost the one final she played in earlier this year at the Qatar Open.

Ostapenko lost to Amanda Anisimova in Doha, 4-6, 3-6, having shocked the world number two in the semi-finals.

Taking down the three-time defending champion in straight sets, Ostapenko beat Swiatek, 6-3, 6-1.

The pair took to the court to face off against one another for a sixth time on the WTA Tour in Stuttgart, as the world number 24 now gives her honest opinion on Swiatek.

Jelena Ostapenko says she has ‘so much respect’ for Iga Swiatek after beating her for the sixth time

Ostapenko beat Swiatek, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, to advance to the semi-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

During her on-court interview, Ostapenko shared her thoughts on the five-time Major champion.

“She is a great clay court player as well, but I won the French [Open] so I can say about myself the same thing,” she said.

Ostapenko was then asked whether she thinks Swiatek hates playing her or if she enjoys playing Swiatek.

“I think both,” said Ostapenko.

“I have so much respect for her and her team and everything she is doing for tennis but every time I step on to the court with her I am like it’s another battle, I am ready for it and even if I don’t feel great on the day I am going to fight and leave it all on the court.

“I think it helped today that I was fighting until the very last point.”

Ostapenko was proud of how she fought through adversity in the second set to come away with the win.

“I felt like the balls were getting a bit slower when they were used and I am really just glad I was fighting,” she said.

“In the second set I didn’t feel my game so much, and in the third set I was like okay it’s done, we are playing the third set from the beginning, and I will fight until the end, and we will see what happens.

“I am really proud of myself.”

Ostapenko has now beaten the Pole on hard, grass, and clay courts, leading the remarkable head-to-head, 6-0.

Few WTA rivalries are more one-sided than Ostapenko and Swiatek’s; dominance which is made all the more surprising considering the difference in ranking between the pair (WTA #2 and WTA #24).

Can Jelena Ostapenko back up her win over Iga Swiatek by reaching the Stuttgart final?

Ostapenko’s previous two victories over Swiatek were followed by disappointing results.

At the 2023 US Open, Ostapenko won just two games in her quarterfinal match with Coco Gauff, after knocking out the Pole in the fourth round.

The Latvians’ win over Swiatek in Doha was followed by a worrying stretch of results, losing four matches in a row.

• 2025 Qatar Open SF – Jelena Ostapenko beat Iga Swiatek, 6-3, 6-1
• 2025 Qatar Open F – Jelena Ostapenko lost to Amanda Anisimova, 4-6, 3-6
• 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships 1R – Jelena Ostapenko lost to Moyuka Uchijima, 3-6, 3-6
• 2025 Indian Wells 2R – Jelena Ostapenko lost to Wang Xinyu, 4-6, 4-6
• 2025 Miami Open 2R – Jelena Ostapenko lost to Alexandra Eala, 6-7, 5-7

She’ll be hoping to avoid a similar fate this time around when she takes on Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-final.

Alexandrova is yet to drop a set in Stuttgart and looked dominant during her victory over Jessica Pegula on Saturday.

Alexandrova had beaten another top-ten star in her previous match, knocking out her countrywoman Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 6-2.

Only time will tell who will come out on top when Ostapenko and Alexandrova play for a place in the Stuttgart final on Sunday, April 20.