As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the iconic clay courts of Roland Garros, Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 champion, has found herself in the spotlight not only for her powerful game but also for her remarkable 6-0 head-to-head record against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The Latvian, ranked No. 18, advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Clara Tauson on May 29, 2025, setting up a potential fourth-round clash with Swiatek. However, when pressed about her flawless record against the four-time French Open champion, Ostapenko was quick to shift focus, emphasizing her own journey and the challenges of the present tournament. Her comments reflect a seasoned competitor who thrives on the court’s intensity while sidestepping the hype surrounding one of tennis’s most lopsided rivalries.
Ostapenko’s dominance over Swiatek, a player who has ruled clay with 23 straight wins at Roland Garros, is a statistical anomaly that has captivated the tennis world. Their rivalry began in 2019 at the Birmingham Classic, where a then-18-year-old Swiatek fell 6-0, 6-2 to Ostapenko on grass. Since then, the Latvian has won every encounter, including a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 triumph at the 2025 Stuttgart Open on clay and a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory in the Qatar Open semi-finals in February. “Every time I step on the court with her, it’s another battle. I’m ready for it,” Ostapenko said in Stuttgart, highlighting her fearless approach. Her strategy—relentless aggression and early strikes—disrupts Swiatek’s rhythm, as she explained: “I tried to be aggressive today and take time away from her because when she has time, she’s playing very well.” This tactic has led to 31 breaks of Swiatek’s serve across their last five meetings, a stark contrast to Swiatek’s 79% service hold rate against other opponents.
Despite this, Ostapenko was reluctant to dwell on her perfect record during her post-match press conference in Paris. “I’m not thinking about that right now,” she said, brushing off questions about her dominance. “I’m just focused on my game, on getting through each match here. Roland Garros is tough, and I know what it takes to win.” Her comments underscore a pragmatic mindset, honed by a career that saw her claim the 2017 French Open title at just 20 years old. Now 27, Ostapenko has evolved from the precocious talent who stunned the field to a battle-hardened player with eight career titles, including a recent WTA 500 win in Stuttgart over Aryna Sabalenka. Her 25 top-10 victories, 21 of which came when she was ranked outside the top 10, highlight her ability to upset the sport’s elite, none more so than Swiatek.
Ostapenko’s 2025 season has been a tale of resurgence. After a dip in form that saw her ranked No. 37 in February, she roared back with a Doha final appearance and a Stuttgart title, climbing to No. 18. Her French Open campaign began with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Jasmine Paolini, followed by the Tauson victory, where she fired 28 winners. “I just have to do what I have to do: Stay aggressive and play my game,” she said before Stuttgart, a mantra that has carried her through Paris. Her next challenge is Anna Kalinskaya, with Swiatek looming as a potential fourth-round opponent after the Pole’s 6-2, 6-4 win over Emma Raducanu. Swiatek, for her part, acknowledged the challenge: “She was smashing every ball kind of perfectly. I had my chances. I just didn’t use them,” she said after Stuttgart, admitting Ostapenko’s aggression overwhelmed her.
The tennis world is abuzz with the possibility of another Ostapenko-Swiatek clash, especially given Swiatek’s clay dominance and her quest for a fifth Roland Garros title. Their 2023 US Open encounter, where Ostapenko’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win dethroned Swiatek as world No. 1, remains a defining moment. “I think the main thing is she doesn’t really like to play big hitters,” Ostapenko noted then, pointing to her ability to rush Swiatek’s game. Yet, in Paris, Ostapenko’s focus is on the present, not past victories. “I’m not looking ahead to who I might play,” she reiterated. “I’m just trying to fight and leave it all on the court.”
As Ostapenko navigates a tough draw, with potential clashes against Coco Gauff or Elena Rybakina in later rounds, her ability to stay focused could be her greatest asset. Her 2025 resurgence, marked by 24 winners against Swiatek in Doha and a career-high 15 wins at the Qatar Open, signals a return to her 2017 form. For Swiatek, a win over Ostapenko would be a psychological breakthrough, but Ostapenko’s refusal to engage in record talk keeps the pressure off. As one observer noted, “It’s possibly the most upside-down head-to-head in tennis history,” yet Ostapenko’s eyes are fixed on the prize, not the past, as she chases another Roland Garros miracle.
# Jelena Ostapenko Downplays Perfect Record Against Iga Swiatek at 2025 French Open
## A Remarkable Rivalry
Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, advanced to the third round of the 2025 Roland Garros with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Clara Tauson on May 29. Despite her 6-0 record against Iga Swiatek, Ostapenko sidestepped hype about a potential fourth-round clash, saying, “I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m just focused on my game.”
## Dominating Swiatek
Ostapenko’s perfect record includes a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win in Stuttgart 2025 and a 6-3, 6-1 rout in Doha. “Every time I step on the court with her, it’s another battle,” she said in Stuttgart. Her aggressive style, with 31 breaks of Swiatek’s serve in five matches, disrupts the Pole’s rhythm. “I tried to be aggressive today and take time away from her,” she noted.
## Swiatek’s Struggles
Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, admitted Ostapenko’s edge: “She was smashing every ball kind of perfectly. I had my chances. I just didn’t use them.” Her 79% service hold rate drops to 52% against Ostapenko, highlighting the Latvian’s impact.
## Ostapenko’s Resurgence
Ranked No. 18, Ostapenko’s 2025 season includes a Stuttgart title and Doha final. “I just have to do what I have to do: Stay aggressive and play my game,” she said. Her 28 winners against Tauson show her form, with Anna Kalinskaya next.
## Looking Ahead
A Swiatek clash looms, but Ostapenko focuses on the present: “I’m not looking ahead to who I might play.” With potential matches against Gauff or Rybakina, her 25 top-10 wins and 2017 Roland Garros pedigree make her a threat for another deep run.
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