PREVIEW | WTA Stuttgart Open 2025 - Quarter-Finals: Iga Swiatek up against her worst nightmare, Jelena Ostapenko
WTAFriday, 18 April 2025 at 22:45
Tennis fans are in for a treat this Saturday as the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix — more widely known as the Stuttgart Open — promise a day packed with high-stakes action and headline-worthy clashes. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is yet to play a match in Germany this year, will finally make her long-awaited debut. Also taking to the court are Coco Gauff against Jasmine Paolini, Ekaterina Alexandrova against Jessica Pegula, and, in the day's marquee match, Iga Swiatek versus Jelena Ostapenko.
The Stuttgart Open marks the official start of the 2025 clay-court swing, which culminates in Paris at Roland Garros in just under a month. True to tradition, the tournament has attracted a world-class field, with the winner not only taking home the title but also the coveted Porsche that has become synonymous with the event.
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Remarkably, all four of the world's top-ranked players remain in contention. Sabalenka, fresh off her Miami Open triumph, is the tournament’s top seed and clear favorite. She’s joined in the quarterfinals by fellow top-ten stars Swiatek, Pegula, and Gauff, as well as No. 6 Jasmine Paolini. The remaining players in the elite eight — Alexandrova, Elise Mertens, and Jelena Ostapenko — are the only ones ranked outside the top 10.
After a day of rest on Friday, the action resumes Saturday with the following quarterfinal matchups:
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens
The World No. 1 will step onto the clay for the first time this week after receiving a first-round bye and advancing via walkover in the second. Sabalenka’s powerful run in Miami further solidified her status as the player to beat on hard courts, but she now sets her sights on proving she can replicate that dominance on clay.
Her opponent, Elise Mertens, knows her well — both as a rival and former doubles partner. The Belgian is coming off an impressive win over Diana Shnaider, but she faces a steep challenge. Sabalenka holds a commanding head-to-head record, having defeated Mertens in every meeting since 2018.
Match Info:
Aryna Sabalenka - Elise Mertens
Start time (local): Sat, 19 Apr, 5:00 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 19 Apr, 11:00 PM
Court: Centre Court
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Sabalenka | Mertens | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 8 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 7 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 1 | 29 |
| Race Ranking | 1 | 18 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 1 | 26 (+3) |
| Live Race Ranking | 1 | 15 (+3) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 26 (5 May 1998) | 29 (17 Nov 1995) |
| Birthplace | Minsk, Belarus | Leuven, Belgium |
| Residence | Miami, Florida, US | Hamont-Achel, Belgium |
| Height | 5'11" (182cm) | 5'10" (179cm) |
| Weight | 176lbs (80kg) | 148lbs (67kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2015 | 2013 |
| Coach | Anton Dubrov | Christopher Heyman |
| YTD W/L | 21-4 (84%) | 17-7 (71%) |
| YTD Titles | 2 | 1 |
| Career Titles | 19 | 9 |
| Prize Money | US $33,287,633 - 9th in all-time rankings | US$15,830,855 - 36th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Sabalenka d E Mertens US Open - Round of 166-2 | 6-4 1 Sep 2024 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens Australian Open - Round of 326-2 | 6-3 21 Jan 2023 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens US Open - Round of 166-4 | 6-1 5 Sep 2021 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens WTA Madrid - Quarterfinal6-1 | 4-0 5 May 2021 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens WTA Linz - Final7-5 | 6-2 15 Nov 2020 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens WTA Dubai - Round of 166-4 | 6-3 19 Feb 2020 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens WTA Elite Trophy -6-4 | 3-6 | 7-5 25 Oct 2019 |
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E Mertens d A Sabalenka WTA Montreal - Round of 162-6 | 7-6 | 6-0 10 Aug 2018 |
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A Sabalenka d E Mertens WTA Eastbourne - Round of 167-5 | 2-6 | 7-6 27 Jun 2018 |
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E Mertens d A Sabalenka WTA Lugano - Final7-5 | 6-2 15 Apr 2018 |
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Jessica Pegula - Ekaterina Alexandrova
The American has long been one of the most consistent players on Tour, always remaining in the top 5 since she reached the final of the US Open 2024; winning matches in almost every tournament she has played. In Stuttgart she is playing her second clay court tournament, as she is the newly crowned champion of the Charleston Open. She comfortably defeated Poland's Magdalena Frech to advance to the quarterfinals, and will face a surprising Ekaterina Alexandrova, who eliminated the player of the moment, Mirra Andreeva, with a superb performance.
Match Info:
Ekaterina Alexandrova - Jessica Pegula
Start time (local): Sat, 19 Apr, 12:30 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 19 Apr, 6:30 PM
Court: Centre Court
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Alexandrova | Pegula | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 2 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 22 | 3 |
| Race Ranking | 12 | 5 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 22 | 3 |
| Live Race Ranking | 11 (+1) | 5 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 30 (15 Nov 1994) | 31 (24 Feb 1994) |
| Birthplace | Chelyabinsk, Russia | Buffalo, New York, US |
| Residence | Prague, Czech Republic | Boca Raton, Florida, US |
| Height | 5'10" (180cm) | 5'6" (170cm) |
| Weight | 146lbs (66kg) | 154lbs (70kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2010 | 2012 |
| Coach | Igor Andreev (Dec 2024—) , Evgeny Alexandrov, Petr Kralert | Mark Knowles, Mark Merklein (2024–) |
| YTD W/L | 14-7 (67%) | 23-6 (79%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | 2 |
| Career Titles | 5 | 8 |
| Prize Money | US $7,594,449 | US$ 17,753,964 - 32nd in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
J Pegula d E Alexandrova WTA Charleston - Semifinal6-2 | 2-6 | 7-5 5 Apr 2025 |
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E Alexandrova d J Pegula WTA Doha - Quarterfinal4-6 | 6-1 | 6-1 13 Feb 2025 |
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E Alexandrova d J Pegula WTA Miami - Quarterfinal3-6 | 6-4 | 6-4 27 Mar 2024 |
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J Pegula d E Alexandrova WTA Rome - Round of 166-2 | 6-4 13 May 2021 |
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Jasmine Paolini - Coco Gauff
A tremendous clash is coming between two players who play very well on clay: Jasmine Paolini had a dream 2024 and is looking to rediscover her best version in Stuttgart. Last year she lost at this stage against Rybakina, but with the defending champion out, the Italian could give the big blow against Gauff.
The American is coming off a second round win over Germany's Seidel, while Paolini beat two locals in the first and second rounds and is hitting the ball with a flair. For both stars, a win would be a huge confidence booster, especially for Gauff, who is trying to pick up the slack in a year in which she has only managed to win the United Cup along with Team USA.
They have only met twice in their career, with Gauff dominating the match, but considering that it has been more than two years since they last played and that their previous matches were on fast courts, the question mark regarding this match is certainly a catching one.
Match Info:
Coco Gauff - Jasmine Paolini
Start time (local): Sat, 19 Apr, 6:10 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 20 Apr, 12:10 AM
Court: Centre Court
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Gauff | Paolini | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 2 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 2 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 4 | 6 |
| Race Ranking | 11 | 14 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 4 | 6 |
| Live Race Ranking | 10 (+1) | 14 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 21 (13 Mar 2004) | 29 (4 Jan 1996) |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, US | Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy |
| Residence | - | Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany, Italy |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | 5'2" (160cm) |
| Weight | 121lbs (55kg) | - |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 | 2011 |
| Coach | Matt Daly (2024–) | Renzo Furlan (2020-Apr 2025), Marc López (Apr 2025-) |
| YTD W/L | 12-5 (71%) | 11-6 (65%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 9 | 2 |
| Prize Money | US$23,153,989 - 19th in all-time rankings | US$ 9,631,944 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Gauff d J Paolini WTA Cincinnati - Quarterfinal6-3 | 6-2 18 Aug 2023 |
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C Gauff d J Paolini WTA Adelaide 1 - Round of 326-4 | 6-7 | 6-2 23 Feb 2021 |
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Iga Swiatek vs. Jelena Ostapenko
The most anticipated match of the day pits current World No. 2 Iga Swiatek against the mercurial and dangerous Jelena Ostapenko — a rivalry defined by its one-sided nature. Shockingly, Ostapenko leads their head-to-head 5-0, an anomaly considering Swiatek’s reputation as one of the most dominant clay-court players in recent history.
Ostapenko, the 2017 Roland Garros champion, has been a constant thorn in Swiatek’s side. Their last meeting came just two months ago in Doha, where the Latvian routed the Pole 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals. Swiatek, known for her consistency and mental fortitude, now faces a familiar nemesis at a critical time in her season.
“It hasn’t been easy in the last few months,” Swiatek admitted. “After having such good seasons, I’m in the spotlight, and I’m being judged for everything. Expectations are high.”
The good news for Swiatek is that this will be their first encounter on clay — her domain. The reigning Roland Garros champion is hoping the surface shift will finally swing momentum in her favor. But Ostapenko’s fearless, high-risk style has been a persistent puzzle for the Pole, regardless of surface.
All eyes will be on this blockbuster clash. Can Swiatek finally snap the streak and assert her dominance on her favorite surface, or will Ostapenko continue her stranglehold in this curious rivalry?
Match Info:
Jelena Ostapenko - Iga Swiatek
Start time (local): Sat, 19 Apr, 1:40 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 19 Apr, 7:40 PM
Court: Centre Court
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Ostapenko | Swiatek | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 5 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 5 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 24 | 2 |
| Race Ranking | 19 | 4 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 23 (+1) | 2 |
| Live Race Ranking | 18 (+1) | 4 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 27 (8 Jun 1997) | 23 (31 May 2001) |
| Birthplace | Riga | Warsaw, Poland |
| Residence | Riga, Latvia | Raszyn, Poland |
| Height | 5'9" (177cm) | 5'9" (176cm) |
| Weight | 150lbs (68kg) | 143lbs (65kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2012 | 2016 |
| Coach | Stas Khmarsky, Jeļena Jakovļeva | Wim Fissette (October 2024 – present) |
| YTD W/L | 8-8 (50%) | 21-6 (78%) |
| YTD Titles | - | - |
| Career Titles | 8 | 22 |
| Prize Money | US$16,922,128 - 33rd in all-time rankings | US $34,842,891 - 8th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
J Ostapenko d I Swiatek WTA Doha - Semifinal6-3 | 6-1 14 Feb 2025 |
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J Ostapenko d I Swiatek US Open - Round of 163-6 | 6-3 | 6-1 4 Sep 2023 |
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J Ostapenko d I Swiatek WTA Dubai - Round of 164-6 | 6-1 | 7-6 16 Feb 2022 |
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J Ostapenko d I Swiatek WTA Indian Wells - Round of 166-4 | 6-3 12 Oct 2021 |
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J Ostapenko d I Swiatek WTA Birmingham - Round of 326-0 | 6-2 18 Jun 2019 |
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