| place: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: August 28 – September 10 |
| protection: Each day dwell textual content and radio commentary throughout the BBC Sport web site and app, BBC Radio 5 Stay and 5 Sports activities Further |
Iga Swiatek’s US Open title protection ended with an inspiring efficiency from big-hitter Jelena Ostapenko within the final 16.
High seed Poland Swiatek misplaced 3-6 6-3 6-1 to Latvian twentieth seed Ostapenko throughout Sunday night time’s session in New York.
Along with her gritty and aggressive type, Ostapenko scored 31 winners and compelled Swiatek right into a sequence of errors.
Ostapenko, who received her solely title on the 2017 French Open, will face American sixth seed Coco Gauff within the subsequent spherical.
Swiatek’s 75-week run on the prime of the ladies’s world rankings resulted in defeat, with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka assured to get replaced after the US Open.
“I’m amazed that my degree has modified so drastically,” stated the 22-year-old Swatik.
“Often once I play badly, I play badly at first, after which I catch up or resolve the issue. This time it was simply the other.
“I do not actually know what occurred with my recreation. I did not really feel any management hastily.”
Swiatek has misplaced all three of her earlier encounters with Ostapenko, however the pair haven’t performed since February 2022 – after which the Pole launched into a 37-match changing profitable streak.
That run landed Swiatek on the prime of the WTA rankings, a spot she hasn’t relinquished since then as her dominance elevated.
The primary query in an thrilling match was how she may deal with the highly effective blows of the 26-year-old Ostapenko.
“I at all times anticipate a troublesome battle in opposition to Iga, she is a good participant and really constant,” stated Ostapenko.
“However I made up my thoughts. I do know I needed to play my recreation and be aggressive as a result of that is not what you are into.”
After falling behind in an early break, Swiatek started absorbing groundstrokes and shortly circled an entertaining set.
However she dropped serve once more early within the second set and this time could not save the day.
As Ostapenko’s comeback accelerated, Swiatek continued to make errors within the alternate of blows and shortly grew to become fully overwhelmed within the extraordinary decider.
Ostapenko sealed a string of victories when she went up 5-0 and had the possibility to attain a uncommon 6-0 over Swiatek, who was identified for profitable the nickname “The Bagel” over her rivals.
Whereas Swiatek averted this destiny by breaking her serve, Ostapenko was not denied the win, sealing victory with one other neat forehand to interrupt her opponent’s serve.
Wrapping up the win, she stated: “I used to be simply considering I needed to play till the final level.
“Once I was 5-0 up, she was lacking extra probabilities, however I assumed I used to be enjoying higher and did not give her any probabilities.”
