4th September, 2023
Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko beat defending champion and world No. 1, Iga Swiatek in the U.S. Open fourth round on Sunday 3-6 6-3 6-1.
The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium was a major upset for Swiatek as she vowed to re-watch it to understand where it all went wrong and why her usually intense level changed “so drastically”.
The Polish three-times Grand Slam winner had not dropped a set before Sunday night’s match but surprisingly was unable to hold off the confident 20th seed’s charge.
With the loss, Swiatek will cede her No.1 ranking since April 2022 to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka when the standings are updated after the tournament on Monday.
“When you lose it, there are some sad emotions,” said Swiatek. “This season was really tough and intense. It’s not easy to cope with all of this stuff.”
Ostapenko fired off a crisp forehand winner to break her opponent’s serve on match point, pumping her fist as she extended her career head-to-head record against Swiatek to 4-0.
“I always expect a tough battle against Iga,” Ostapenko said.
“I knew I had to play my game. I have to be aggressive because that’s what she doesn’t really like and I was just fighting until the very last point.”
The 2017 Roland Garros champion next faces in the quarter final, American sixth seed Coco Gauff, who beat wildcard Caroline Wozniacki in three sets earlier in the day.
Ostapenko last met Gauff in the Australian Open in the fourth round.
She beat the American 6-4 7-5, but the game may change this time as Gauff has been playing the best tennis of her life.