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)

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.

FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)