WTA 500 Stuttgart 4/14 - 4/21 2025

[ponchi101]

I expect Alexandrova will beat Ostapenko...she is a very different kind of player..serves well, wint give Osta weak shots to pummel..and has a great return..just as Vika has

Not fully expect, but agree that Alexandrova should be favored.

[mick1303]

There's never been anyone in anyone's head as much as she is in Swiatek's head.

Serena and Maria strongly disagree with this statement.

I think Serena was just better all around. Different case with Swiatek-Ostapenko.

[ti-amie]

Sunday Order of Play

Centre Court
Starts at 7:00 AM

Semifinal
RUS E. Alexandrova vs LAT J. Ostapenko
Followed by
Semifinal
BLR
A. Sabalenka (1) vs ITA J. Paolini (5)
Followed by
Final
CAN G. Dabrowski/NZL E. Routliffe (1) vs RUS E. Alexandrova/CHN S. Zhang

[jazzyg]

There's never been anyone in anyone's head as much as she is in Swiatek's head.

Serena and Maria strongly disagree with this statement.

The difference is Serena was significantly more talented than Sharapova.

Swiatek is better than Ostapenko.

And I see this was referenced right above. Sorry for the redundant post.

[ashkor87]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

[FredX]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

Nick and Stefanos might strongly disagree with this statement. Didn't Agassi in his autobiography cop to tanking a semifinal match in Australia because he was so intimidated by Becker that he didn't want to face him in the final? Sports psychologists exist for a reason (though in Iga's case, they may not be helping matters). Agassi clearly got over it, Swiatek probably will too...but I think it's real, I don't think it takes much to spook a lot of these seasoned professionals.

What is it about Ostapenko's game that matches up so badly? Iga has no problem handling heavy hitters generally. Why Sabalenka and not Ostapenko, for example?

[ashkor87]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

Nick and Stefanos might strongly disagree with this statement. Didn't Agassi in his autobiography cop to tanking a semifinal match in Australia because he was so intimidated by Becker that he didn't want to face him in the final? Sports psychologists exist for a reason (though in Iga's case, they may not be helping matters). Agassi clearly got over it, Swiatek probably will too...but I think it's real, I don't think it takes much to spook a lot of these seasoned professionals.

What is it about Ostapenko's game that matches up so badly? Iga has no problem handling heavy hitters generally. Why Sabalenka and not Ostapenko, for example?

In the end, Agassi figured out Becker..his autobiography tells why Agassi disliked Becker..I don't think he ever feared him. Ostapenko is simply more brutally effective at punishing soft serves than anyone else today .notice that Rybakina does well against Swiatek too..Sabalenka should do better, I agree..but I don't think she hits as hard and effectively as Ostapenko does ..

[FredX]

Apparenty Agassi figured him out by studying his tongue placement! Still, let's flip it around - Ostapenko isn't exactly a pillar of consistency, yet she manages to always have the right stuff against Swiatek...her confidence in this particular match-up is palpable. it cuts both ways, and I think it's beyond the x's and o's of playing style.

[ashkor87]

Sabalenka vs Mertens - Sabalenka seems to suffer from a desire to be 'cute' - when she should just smash the ball, she wants to hit a drop shot.. Mertens read those perfectly.. shot selection needs to improve!

[mick1303]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

Nick and Stefanos might strongly disagree with this statement. Didn't Agassi in his autobiography cop to tanking a semifinal match in Australia because he was so intimidated by Becker that he didn't want to face him in the final? Sports psychologists exist for a reason (though in Iga's case, they may not be helping matters). Agassi clearly got over it, Swiatek probably will too...but I think it's real, I don't think it takes much to spook a lot of these seasoned professionals.

What is it about Ostapenko's game that matches up so badly? Iga has no problem handling heavy hitters generally. Why Sabalenka and not Ostapenko, for example?

I think this H2H is due to the "prefect storm" so to speak. It has accentuating mental circumstances on both sides. Usually very erratic Ostapenko has a morale boost from the previous matches, while Iga is very nervous and lacks confidence much more than against other opponents (even much stronger ones). I don't see anything stylistically particularly damning in this matchup. One victory from Iga may flip it completely. She definitely has the tools to move Ostapenko around and make her miss usual share of shots.

[ashkor87]

well, well, Osta is better than I think.. comfortable win over Alexandrova.. Saba next, probably - cant see Paolini beating Saba..?

[ashkor87]

Stuttgart is an INDOOR court, wonder how much difference that would make.. no breeze, conditions under control, I imagine it would make it easier for a pure strike player like Ostapenko, Rybakina, etc.. and harder for those who use spin to control the ball? like Swiatek..It should suit Sabalenka, then.. we shall see.

[atlpam]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

Remember Federer - Nalbandian

[ashkor87]

I agree, Serena was simply a much better player than Sharapova..Ostapenko vs swiatek is more about how their games match up. I don't believe much in anybody being inside anybody's head .these are all seasoned pros and can overcome these things sooner or later.

Remember Federer - Nalbandian

Federer was still maturing when Nalbandian beat him 5 times in a row - their h2h ended up 11-8 in Federer's favor. As I said, sooner or later..

[ashkor87]

paolini's footwork is delightful.. watching her give Sabalenka a tough fight.. more tough than I expected. Sabalenka is being cute at the wrong time as usual, and not moving all that well, but just too powerful ..I wonder if Ostapenko can make her pay ..

Paolini, to me, is like Radwanska with a better serve.. brilliant footwork, great footspeed.. she did well at Wimbledon last year already, should do again. Very impressed with how well she has kept up her level of play from last year, I was pretty sure she would drop off to nothing.. but that hasnt happened.