cnn
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Jeļena Ostapenko extended her impressive unbeaten record over World No. 1 Iga Świątek on Sunday, eliminating the defending US Open champion in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows.
The sheer power of the powerful Ostapenko once again proved too much for Świątek, with the Latvian winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to improve his head-to-head record to 4-0.
Ostapenko, seeded No. 20 in New York, scored 31 winners en route to her victory, ending Świątek's 75-week streak as world number one. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is ready to take the top spot for the first time after the US Open.
“I think the main thing is that she doesn't like playing against big hitters,” Ostapenko told reporters after her victory. “She likes to have some time. When I play fast, aggressive and powerful, she gets into trouble a little bit.
“I always expect a tough battle against Iga, she is a great player and very consistent… but I just tried. “I know I had to play my game and be aggressive because that's not what she likes.”
After losing the first set, Ostapenko went on to dominate the match and raced to a remarkable 5-0 lead in the decisive third set.
Świątek, who had yet to lose a set in this year's tournament, managed to avoid one of the bagels he so often dishes out to his opponents, but in the end he could do nothing to stop Ostapenko's power and precision.
“I'm surprised that my level has changed so drastically,” Świątek told reporters. “Usually when I play bad, I play bad at first, then I catch up or solve the problem. This time it was the complete opposite.
“I really don't know what happened to my game. “Suddenly I didn’t feel any control.”
Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, will play Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals after the teenager beat returning Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Gauff, who had to recover from a break in the third set, won the biggest title of her career in Cincinnati before the US Open and continued her good form in New York.
Gauff, seeded sixth and one of the favorites to lift the open field title, aspires to reach a second Grand Slam final and the first at home.
Her victory ended Wozniacki's remarkable return to the sport after the Dane retired three and a half years ago to start a family. This was Wozniacki's first Grand Slam appearance since the 2020 Australian Open after returning to the tour last month.
Wozniacki's run at Flushing Meadows, during which she eliminated No. 11 seed Petra Kvitová, will no doubt fill her with confidence heading into the new season.
“There are many positive things to take with me for the future. “I’m on the right path,” said Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion.
“I'm finding my form, I'm finding my feet. “I’m excited to participate in more events and more players.”
