World No. 2 Iga Swiatek wasn’t exactly thrilled when questioned about her demeanor following a tough three-set loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, once again came up short against the Latvian, falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 — marking her sixth consecutive defeat to Ostapenko, a surprising streak given Swiatek’s dominance over most of the tour.
During her post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked if she felt “irritated” during the match and what might be causing that emotion.
“Did I look irritated today?” Swiatek replied, pointedly.
When the reporter confirmed the observation, she followed up sharply: “Much more than when I lose overall?”
Swiatek Reflects on the Match: ‘I Had My Chances’
Despite the loss, Swiatek emphasized that this match felt different from previous encounters with Ostapenko, where the Latvian had overpowered her with relentless aggression.
“I think today was a tight match. I definitely had my chances to win,” said Swiatek. “In previous matches, she was going for everything and hitting perfectly. Today, she made more mistakes, and I had my openings — I just didn’t capitalize on them.”
When asked whether she approached this match with a different strategy given her 0-5 head-to-head record entering the match, Swiatek noted that her game plan remained straightforward.
“It wasn’t about changing tactics. I had a clear plan, and I executed it well in the second set,” she said. “It was just a matter of maintaining that level throughout the match.”
A Mixed Stuttgart History
Swiatek has previously enjoyed success in Stuttgart, claiming titles in both 2022 and 2023. However, she has failed to reach the final since, bowing out in the semifinals last year and now in the quarterfinals in 2025.
