Jelena Ostapenko stunned Iga Swiatek at the Qatar Open, with the Latvian claiming after her win that she “knows how to beat” the world No. 2.
Ostapenko’s victory extended her head-to-head advantage over Swiatek to 5-0, showcasing that the 2017 Roland Garros champion has found a ‘kryptonite’ for the Polish player—being the only one to defeat Swiatek five times.
Swiatek was broken five times in the match and won just 46% of points on her first serve, compared to Ostapenko’s 73%. The Polish star has not won a title since last year’s Roland Garros and entered the Doha tournament with a 15-match winning streak.
“I stepped on court today confident I could beat her,” Ostapenko said. “We’ve played a lot of matches, and I know how to play her game. I stayed focused on myself and knew exactly what I had to do. I’m really pleased with how I’ve managed my emotions this week. I’m just so happy to be in the finals.”
Ostapenko made the Doha final in 2016 but lost to Carla Suarez Navarro. She reflected, “This court has special energy, and it’s always supported me. Everything started for me here.”
“The hosts are great, the atmosphere, the fans—everything is amazing. The facilities are even better now. I’m just really pleased to be here.”
Before the match, Swiatek acknowledged Ostapenko’s past victories, saying she was prepared for a tough challenge.
“Because of the head-to-head record, I can play without expectations, focus on my work, and maybe change something to finally win against her,” she said.
“She’s always been a tough opponent and has played amazing against me. I’ll have another chance and try to use it.”
“Every tournament has its own conditions, and I’ll see what she brings if she wins against Ons.”
Swiatek’s cautious optimism did not result in her first win over Ostapenko. Given the manner of the latest loss, Ostapenko will likely hold the upper hand when they next meet.
Ostapenko will compete in her third WTA 1000 final against Amanda Anisimova in the Qatar Open on Saturday, heading into the match with a 1-0 head-to-head record over her opponent. Their only previous meeting in Doha in 2022 saw Ostapenko win in three sets. The winner of the match will also gain 1,000 ranking points, providing a significant boost when the updated WTA Rankings are revealed on Monday.