In the heart of Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced a familiar sting of defeat on April 21, 2025, as Jelena Ostapenko delivered a commanding 6-4, 6-1 victory in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final. For the fourth time in five years, Sabalenka stood as the runner-up, her dream of driving away in the tournament’s signature prize—a sleek Porsche Macan Turbo Electric valued at £97,000—slipping through her fingers once again. With a mix of humor and resolve, Sabalenka declared her intention to take matters into her own hands, quipping, “I’m glad I can afford this car… after this final I’m gonna order one because this is the only way for me.” Her lighthearted defiance masked the frustration of a champion determined to conquer Stuttgart’s elusive title.
Sabalenka’s journey to the 2025 final was marked by both fortune and tenacity. As the top seed, she received a first-round bye and advanced to the quarterfinals without striking a ball when Anastasia Potapova withdrew due to injury. “It’s a bit awkward,” Sabalenka admitted, noting the unusual week that saw her play just two matches before the final. She dispatched Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals and battled past Jasmine Paolini in a gritty 7-5, 6-4 semifinal, where she overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second set. “I had to fight for every point, it’s always tough against Jasmine,” she said, her competitive fire evident. Entering the final with a 3-0 head-to-head record against Ostapenko, Sabalenka harbored high hopes of finally securing the title—and the car she’d coveted since her first Stuttgart final in 2021.
Ostapenko, however, had other plans. The unseeded Latvian, fresh off a stunning quarterfinal upset over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, unleashed a masterclass of aggressive tennis. Breaking Sabalenka’s serve twice in a tightly contested first set, Ostapenko seized control with a 6-4 scoreline after 57 minutes. The second set was a rout, with Ostapenko winning 20 of the final 24 points, breaking Sabalenka four times to clinch the match in just 28 minutes. Sabalenka’s serve faltered, landing only 52.9% of first serves compared to Ostapenko’s 80.6%. “You were just a better player than me today,” Sabalenka conceded during the trophy ceremony, her sportsmanship shining through despite the disappointment.
The Porsche has become Sabalenka’s white whale. Her previous final losses came against Ash Barty in 2021 and Swiatek in 2022 and 2023, all world No. 1s at the time. “I really believe that all those times were just because I played the world No. 1, so I became world No. 1,” she quipped earlier in the tournament, hoping her top ranking would break the curse. Yet, Ostapenko’s dominance dashed those hopes, prompting playful banter between the two. “I think you hate me now because you wanted this car so badly,” Ostapenko teased, adding, “I’m sure you’ll get it another time.” Sabalenka, ever the showwoman, jokingly refused the runner-up trophy and begged Porsche to “take off those cars” next year to spare her the temptation.
Despite the setback, Sabalenka’s 2025 season remains stellar, with two titles in Brisbane and Miami and a career prize money haul of over $33 million—nearly double Ostapenko’s. Her resolve to purchase the Porsche reflects her financial success and unyielding spirit. “Every year is hoping to get the car so we can drive it in Miami, not this year,” she told fans, already looking ahead to future chances. As she shifts focus to the Madrid Open, Sabalenka’s humor and determination promise a continued chase for both titles and her dream car, proving that even in defeat, she remains a champion with a flair for the dramatic.