Ostapenko beats Swiatek again and reaches Stuttgart semifinals with Sabalenka

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Jelena Ostapenko continued her dominance over Iga Swiatek by beating the world No. 2 on her favorite surface.

Ostapenko won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the clay-court Porsche Grand Prix on Saturday to improve her head-to-head record against the four-time French Open champion to 6-0.

“Every time I step on the court with her it’s another battle, I’m ready for it,” said Ostapenko, the 2017 champion at Roland Garros. “Even if I don’t feel great on the day, I will just fight and leave it all on the court.”

The Latvian player, ranked No. 24, previously beat Swiatek four times on hard-courts and once on grass.

“I tried to be aggressive today and take time away from her because when she has time, she's playing very well,” Ostapenko said.

In the semifinals, she will play Ekaterina Alexandrova, who ousted third-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-0, 6-4.

No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka finally played her first match in Stuttgart and beat former doubles partner Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-1.

Sabalenka got a bye through the first round and a walkover in the second.

“Never happened before that I play the first match on Saturday,” she said.

She will next face No. 6 Jasmine Paolini, who knocked off No. 4 Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3 for the first time in three career meetings.

Paolini earned her first top-10 win of the year.

Sabalenka leads Paolini 4-2 on tour.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jasmine Paolini, of Italy, reacts after her game against Coco Gauff, of the U.S., not pictured, in their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka takes a photo of the baseline as she plays Belgium's Elise Mertens, during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko in action against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko in action against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Poland's Iga Swiatek in action against Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Poland's Iga Swiatek in action against Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko in action against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Poland's Iga Swiatek after losing against Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko in action against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Lithuania's Jelena Ostapenko celebrates victory against against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarterfinal tennis match at the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lamine Yamal secured Barcelona's 4-1 win over Espanyol after setting up Ferran Torres for a double and the La Liga leaders took another step toward retaining the title on Saturday.

Yamal passed for Ferran to score in the 10th and 25th minutes before the teenage phenom ensured the victory in the 87th with Espanyol threatening to equalize. Marcus Rashford made it four for the hosts at Camp Nou in the 89th.

Barcelona capitalized on Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Friday to increase its lead to nine points over its top rival with seven rounds remaining.

Barcelona and Madrid will try to overcome losses in the Champions League quarterfinals in their next games after Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid 2-0 and Madrid fell to Bayern Munich 2-1 this week.

While Madrid will travel to Germany on a three-game winless streak, Barcelona’s attack is clicking as it heads to Spain’s capital needing a big win to advance to the European semifinals.

Barcelona’s fans chanted “Yes we can!” after the match with its team playing at Atletico on Tuesday.

“The team is in a good place. We’ll be ready. We want to go there and fight Atlético," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “We don’t need a miracle. We need to play our best football.”

Barcelona's best play is coming from the 18-year-old Yamal, who leads the team both in goals (22) and assists (18) across all competitions this season.

Ferran started the season in good form, scoring 16 goals among more starts than aging star Robert Lewandowski. While lacking the clinical scoring touch of the Poland striker, Ferran provided more movement, speed and linked up well with Yamal and his midfielders.

But Ferran then hit a slump and had not scored since Jan. 31.

His goalless run stretched across 13 games in all competitions and finally ended on Saturday when Yamal delivered a corner kick to the far post where Ferran leapt over Carlos Romero and nodded it home.

Ferran celebrated by gesturing with his hands as if they were talking, apparently in reference to the talk in the sports press and social media about his scoring troubles.

He made it a brace when he used a subtle touch to roll a pass by Yamal under on-rushing goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

“A forward is always judged by the goals he scores,” Ferran said. “It is true I hadn’t scored in some time but I believed in my efforts and that the payoff would come when least expected.”

Espanyol midfielder Pol Lozano put the result in doubt when he used one touch to fire in a rebound of a loose ball to make it 2-1 in the 56th.

But Yamal finished off the Catalan derby when Dmitrovic tried to clear a long pass but ended up knocking it off Yamal, who only had to push the ball into the open net.

“The final score was too lopsided for the game we saw,” said coach Manolo González, whose Espanyol remained in 10th. “We had our chances and their first three goals were from our defensive mistakes.”

Rashford got his goal when he was set up by fellow substitute Frenkie de Jong, who made his first appearance in over a month after the Netherlands midfielder recovered from a right leg injury.

An Atletico side with several second-choice players and member of its youth squad lost 2-1 at Sevilla, which moved away from the relegation zone with its first win under new coach Luis García.

Akor Adams and Nemanja Gudelj scored for Sevilla. Atletico defender Javier Boñar scored in his debut at age 20.

Elche escaped the danger zone and leapfrogged Valencia with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal by Lucas Cepeda.

Alaves striker Lucas Boyé struck late in stoppage time to complete a 3-3 draw at Real Sociedad.

In this round the referees and some teams wore throwback shirts as part of a "La Liga Retro" promotion.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, centre, controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Lamine Yamal, left, and Fermin Lopez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after Ferran Torres, right, scored their side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)