Defending champion Iga Swiatek bows out of US Open in Round 4 - ESPN

NEW YORK — Iga Swiatek's US Open title defense ended with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round Sunday night.

The loss also means Swiatek's stay at No. 1 in the WTA rankings will end next week, when current No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will rise to the top spot for the first time.

«I don't know why I played that bad,» Swiatek said. «I'm not happy with my performances on hard courts this year. But overall, I did a pretty good job at maintaining my level. I'm happy I'm going to have time to practice because I miss that.»

Swiatek's shots were off target in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and she had a difficult time handling the hard hitting from the 20th-seeded Ostapenko, who won the 2017 French Open.

«I knew I have to play my game,» Ostapenko said after accumulating 31 winners to 18 for Swiatek. «I knew I have to be aggressive, because that's what she doesn't really like.»

This was not necessarily a huge surprise, based on their previous matchups: Ostapenko has now improved to 4-0 against Swiatek over their careers. No other player owns four victories against the woman who has led the WTA rankings since April 2022.

«I was just thinking that I have to play until the very last point, until we shake hands,» Ostapenko said. «I didn't really give her many chances.»

After getting off to a terrific start in the second set, which she led 4-1, Ostapenko wavered for a bit. That allowed Swiatek to get a break back and pull within 4-3. But that was only a blip.

«I think the main thing is she doesn't really like to play big hitters,» Ostapenko said. «She likes to have some time. When I play fast, aggressive and powerful, she's a little bit in trouble.»

With Swiatek having trouble serving — perhaps owing to all of the squeaking