Iga Swiatek has yet to qualify for a WTA final in 2025, despite reaching the quarterfinals in all six tournaments she’s played.
The world number two suffered another disappointing defeat recently in Stuttgart, as Jelena Ostapenko beat Swiatek, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Swiatek has now lost all six of her career meetings with Latvia’s Ostapenko, a worrying head-to-head record for the Pole.
She’ll now travel to Spain for the Madrid Open, looking to defend the title she won for the first time in 2024.
Ahead of the first clay-court WTA 1000 tournament of 2025, Swiatek may well have received a big confidence boost.
Aryna Sabalenka’s defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart could boost Iga Swiatek’s confidence
After beating Swiatek in the Stuttgart quarterfinals, Ostapenko took on Aryna Sabalenka in Monday’s final.
Dropping just five games, Ostapenko beat Sabalenka, 6-4, 6-1, to clinch her first clay court title since winning Roland Garros eight years ago.
The result could bring Swiatek some much-needed confidence ahead of the Madrid Open, knowing that her biggest rival also fell to defeat against the Latvian star.
Ostapenko has become one of the most feared names in any WTA draw over recent years, picking up victories over each member of the top four since 2023.
| Match | Opponent | Opponent’s rank then | Opponent’s rank now | Score |
| 2025 Stuttgart – F | Aryna Sabalenka | 1 | 1 | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2025 Stuttgart – QF | Iga Swiatek | 2 | 2 | 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2025 Qatar Open – SF | Iga Swiatek | 2 | 2 | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2023 China Open – 3R | Jessica Pegula | 4 | 3 | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2023 US Open – 4R | Iga Swiatek | 1 | 2 | 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2023 Australian Open – 4R | Coco Gauff | 7 | 4 | 7-5, 6-3 |
Losing to a player ranked outside the world’s top ten would normally cause concern for the WTA Tour’s best players, but perhaps an exception should be made for defeats to the world number 18.
Swiatek will, however, likely need to find a way past Ostapenko if she wants to defend her Madrid Open title in 2025.
Iga Swiatek’s nightmare draw for the 2025 Madrid Open includes a potential Jelena Ostapenko rematch
The 23-year-old has been handed a tricky draw in Madrid, where she could face off against several players who have beaten her recently.
- 2R – Alexandra Eala
- 3R – Linda Noskova
- 4R – Jelena Ostapenko
- QF – Madison Keys
- SF – Mirra Andreeva
- F – Aryna Sabalenka
2R – Alexandra Eala
At this year’s Miami Open, Swiatek lost to Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals, 2-6, 5-7, as the Filipino continued to impress in the Sunshine State.
Ranked 72nd in the world, Eala hadn’t appeared at a tour-level tournament since, but won her opening match in Madrid against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova, 6-3, 6-2.
Swiatek will no doubt look for revenge in their second career meeting, when the pair face off in the second round of the Madrid Open.
3R – Linda Noskova
Should Swiatek advance past Eala she could take on Czechia’s Linda Noskova in the third round.
Noskova beat Swiatek in their sole Grand Slam meeting at the Australian Open last year, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, condemning the Pole to her earliest exit in Melbourne since 2019.
Since then, Swiatek took control of the head-to-head, winning each of their previous three matches, and would surely be confident of extending that record to four in a row, should they play in Madrid later this week.
4R – Jelena Ostapenko
Of all the potential fourth-round opponents Swiatek could have been drawn against, Ostapenko was the worst possible outcome for the world number two.
Swiatek has yet to beat Ostapenko on the WTA Tour, and has now lost to the Latvian on hard, grass, and clay courts.
| Match | Surface | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – QF | Clay | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2025 Qatar Open – SF | Hard | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2023 US Open – 4R | Hard | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships – 2R | Hard | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 |
| 2021 Indian Wells – 4R | Hard | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2019 Birmingham – 1R | Grass | Jelena Ostapenko | Iga Swiatek | 6-0, 6-2 |
Ostapenko has, however, struggled to back up her big wins over recent years, with a tough third-round match against Diana Shnaider potentially standing in the way of her and Swiatek’s seventh career meeting.
QF – Madison Keys
The Pole failed to convert a match point that would’ve sent her into the Australian Open final in January, when Swiatek lost to Madison Keys in Melbourne.
Keys handed Swiatek arguably her most devastating defeat of the season, and the world number two would surely be up for revenge should they take to the court against one another in Madrid.
SF – Mirra Andreeva
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva could be a potential opponent for Swiatek should the pair both reach the 2025 Madrid Open semi-finals.
The 17-year-old has won her previous two matches against Swiatek and now leads the head-to-head 2-1.
- 2025 Indian Wells SF – Mirra Andreeva beat Iga Swiatek, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3
- 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships QF – Mirra Andreeva beat Iga Swiatek, 6-3, 6-3
- 2024 Cincinnati Open QF – Iga Swiatek beat Mirra Andreeva, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Twice a WTA 1000 champion in 2025, Andreeva would prove a real test for Swiatek on her search for a first final of the year.
F – Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka and Swiatek have contested the previous two Madrid Open finals, with the Pole getting the better of her rival in 2024.
The Pole does lead the head-to-head with Sabalenka, 8-4, but lost the last time they faced off, in Cincinnati last year.
It remains to be seen if the 2025 Madrid Open will play host to another Sabalenka/Swiatek classic, but it will certainly be worth a watch.
Swiatek will begin her title defence against Eala in the second round on Friday, April 25.
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