World No. 12 Jelena Ostapenko faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of Canadian wildcard Marina Stakusic, losing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(0) in a dramatic encounter. Stakusic, ranked No. 155, had never before beaten a player within the top 20, making this victory a significant breakthrough for her.
In the final set, Ostapenko appeared poised for victory, jumping out to a commanding 4-0 lead. However, she struggled to maintain her advantage and lost four out of the next five games. Ostapenko had multiple opportunities to clinch the match but failed to convert several crucial match points: one while leading 5-4 and three more when she was ahead 6-5. When the match reached the tiebreaker, Stakusic took control, winning seven consecutive points to secure her place in the next round.
This loss is part of a troubling trend for Ostapenko, who has now lost four of her last five matches. All these defeats have come against players ranked outside the top 50, with Stakusic being the lowest-ranked opponent in this stretch. Ostapenko’s sole victory during this period was a win over Paula Badosa in Toronto.
On the other hand, Stakusic, aged 19, has reached her first WTA quarter-final, a remarkable achievement. She joins an elite group from her country that includes Eugenie Bouchard, Leylah Fernandez, and Aleksandra Wozniak as one of only four players from Canada to advance to the quarter-finals of a WTA 500 event. Stakusic expressed her overwhelming joy and disbelief at this career-defining victory, highlighting how the win was both challenging and exhilarating for her.
