NEW YORK — Iga Swiatek‘s US Perceivable identify protection ended with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss to Jelena Ostapenko within the fourth spherical Sunday evening.
The loss additionally method Swiatek’s keep at Negative. 1 within the WTA scores will finish nearest generation, when flow Negative. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will stand to the manage spot for the primary moment.
“I don’t know why I played that bad,” Swiatek mentioned. “I’m not happy with my performances on hard courts this year. But overall, I did a pretty good job at maintaining my level. I’m happy I’m going to have time to practice because I miss that.”
Swiatek’s photographs have been off beam in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and he or she had a hard moment dealing with the brittle hitting from the Twentieth-seeded Ostapenko, who received the 2017 French Perceivable.
“I knew I have to play my game,” Ostapenko mentioned upcoming collecting 31 winners to 18 for Swiatek. “I knew I have to be aggressive, because that’s what she doesn’t really like.”
This was once now not essentially a plethora amaze, in accordance with their earlier matchups: Ostapenko has now progressed to 4-0 in opposition to Swiatek over their careers. Negative alternative participant owns 4 victories in opposition to the girl who has led the WTA scores since April 2022.
“I was just thinking that I have to play until the very last point, until we shake hands,” Ostapenko mentioned. “I didn’t really give her many chances.”
Later getting off to an incredible get started in the second one prepared, which she led 4-1, Ostapenko wavered for a little bit. That allowed Swiatek to get a fracture again and shoot inside of 4-3. However that was once just a blip.
“I think the main thing is she doesn’t really like to play big hitters,” Ostapenko mentioned. “She likes to have some time. When I play fast, aggressive and powerful, she’s a little bit in trouble.”
With Swiatek having bother serving — most likely owing to all the squeaking Ostapenko’s sneakers did as she moved round all the way through the ball toss past ready to go back — the competition temporarily tilted in a single course. Ostapenko reeled off seven consecutive video games to exit up 5-0 within the 3rd prepared.
Ostapenko needy one latter moment to finish it, that means she received seven of Swiatek’s 13 carrier video games within the fit.
Ostapenko’s first quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows will come in opposition to Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old American who eradicated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 previous Sunday.
Ostapenko and Gauff have fracture two earlier conferences. The latest got here within the fourth spherical of the Australian Perceivable in January, and Ostapenko received that one.
“She’s a great young player,” Ostapenko mentioned about Gauff. “Of course it’s going to be another tough match. I don’t expect any easy matches at a Grand Slam.”
Swiatek’s loss comes lower than a generation upcoming she opened the event with a dominant efficiency, defeating unseeded Rebecca Peterson of Sweden 6-0, 6-1 latter Monday. However she did point out upcoming that win that she felt her tank was once “pretty empty” upcoming dropping within the Montreal and Cincinnati semifinals in August.
“I feel like I’m progressing as a player, but I have more skills,” Swiatek mentioned, summing up her season. “This season was tough and intense.”
The Related Press contributed to this file.
