There will be a new No.1 in the women’s game following the conclusion of the US Open after Jelena Ostapenko battled back from a set down to stun top seed Iga Swiatek.
Ostapenko, who is currently ranked 21st in the world, recovered from losing the opener by winning 12 out of the next 15 games during her 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, win. The Latvian is the first player to have beaten Swiatek four times on the Tour and she is yet to lose to her. It is also her first win over a current world No.1 player since 2017 when she beat Garbine Muguruza in Wuhan.
“I was staying aggressive and playing my game. I started to feel much better about my game at the end of the second set and especially in the third set,” said Ostapenko.
“I knew she would have all the pressure because she’s No. 1. I was just trying to make it hard for her, play my game and fight until the very last point.” She added.
During her fourth round clash, Ostapenko hit a total of 31 winners against 20 unforced errors. It is the first time in her career that she has reached the last eight of the US Open in what is her seventh appearance. According to Opta Ace, she is only the fourth player since the WTA ranking system was introduced in 1975 to have beaten a No.1 after losing the first set on the women’s Tour.
As for Swiatek, she will lose her top spot next Monday when the rankings are updated. She has held the position since April 4th, 2022. In New York, the Pole had to finish one round better than Aryna Sabalenka to keep her position. Sabalenka will become the 29th woman to hold the No.1 ranking. She will also become only the eighth to have topped both the doubles and singles standings.
“’I’m surprised that my level changed so drastically because usually when I play bad, I play bad at the beginning, then I kind of catch up or just problem solve. This time it was totally the opposite.” Swiatek said of her latest performance.
“I don’t really know what happened with my game. I felt no control suddenly.”
Swiatek, who has won five Grand Slam titles, had cruised into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set. A stark contrast to Ostapenko who is yet to secure a straight sets victory in the tournament.
“Usually I’m not looking at numbers, but overall I love them. I would love to, like, extend this record a little bit longer,” Swiatek commented on losing her No.1 spot.
“This is something that when I was younger, I actually kind of wanted to break some record or have something.
“I already did that ’cause I already won a Slam as a first Polish player. Obviously being No. 1 as the third player in history is great.
“But for sure when it happens, when you lose it, there are some sad emotions.
“All these great players know it’s going to come back if you’re going to work hard, focus on the right things, just develop as a player.”
Ostapenko will next play Coco Gauff who beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in her fourth round match. She is bidding to reach her first major semi-final since the 2018 Wimbledon championships.
