Top-seeded Sabalenka beats Paolini to set up Porsche Grand Prix final against unseeded Ostapenko

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka won 7-5, 6-4 against Jasmine Paolini of Italy on Sunday to set up a clay-court Porsche Grand Prix final against unseeded Jelena Ostapenko.

The No.1-ranked Sabalenka has conserved some energy in the tournament. The 26-year-old Belarussian got a bye through the first round and a walkover in the second.

Sabalenka looked sharp against the fifth-seeded Paolini, last year's French Open runner-up, breaking her serve six times.

Sabalenka owns three Grand Slam titles and will aim for her 20th career title overall but her first at the Porsche Grand Prix, where she lost her three previous finals at the Stuttgart tournament.

The 27-year-old Ostapenko, who is Latvian, earlier won 6-4, 6-4 against Ekaterina Alexandrova and is bidding for her ninth career title.

Ostapenko won the French Open in 2017 with a high-risk brand of big-hitting tennis and improbable winners.

It is her only major title so far. She reached a career-best ranking of fifth the following year and is now ranked 24th.

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

Jasmine Paolini of Italy in action against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in action against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during their women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, right, and Jasmine Paolini of Italy shake hands after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Jasmine Paolini of Italy, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Stuttgart surged into contention for the Bundesliga's Champions League places after Jamie Leweling scored twice in a 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

On a day when snow cut the Bundesliga schedule from six games to four, Stuttgart made light of below-freezing temperatures.

Stuttgart led 4-0 by halftime against a Leverkusen team missing injured striker Patrik Schick and key players at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both of Leweling's goals came as Stuttgart turned over the ball and surged through the Leverkusen half, either side of a Maximilian Mittelstädt penalty awarded when Leverkusen's Jeanuel Belocian brought down Josha Vagnoman. Deniz Undav made it 4-0 just before halftime.

An Alex Grimaldo penalty midway through the second half was the only consolation for Leverkusen, which has lost three of its last five Bundesliga games.

Following reports in Britain linking Leweling with Bournemouth as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo, Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth told broadcaster Sky, “We don't plan to sell Jamie Leweling. We're happy that we have him.”

Leverkusen and Stuttgart are fourth, both 12 points off league leader Bayern Munich, which plays Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Union Berlin fans spent the week clearing snow around their stadium so their game against Mainz could go ahead. They were rewarded with a late recovery to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Union's game was in doubt, prompting fans to gather with shovels to clear snow from access routes at the stadium on Thursday. Those efforts and lower-than-expected snowfall on Friday allowed the game to proceed, though the damp field soon churned up.

On his return to a club he led into the Champions League before his 2023 departure, Mainz coach Urs Fischer nearly left with a win.

Nadiem Amiri's volley gave Mainz the lead and ex-Union player Benedict Hollerbach refused to celebrate after scoring Mainz's second goal. Union responded with goals from Jeong Woo-yeong in the 77th and a close-range finish from Marin Ljubicic in the 86th to take a point.

A poor tackle cost Hamburger SV dearly in a 2-1 loss at Freiburg which finished amid steady snowfall.

Hamburg had just taken the lead when defender Daniel Edfadli's clumsy challenge gave away a penalty and earned him a second yellow card. Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo converted the spot kick before Igor Matanovic scored the winning goal.

Heidenheim drew with Cologne 2-2. Marvin Pieringer's audacious overhead kick gave Heidenheim the lead early before Cologne twice leveled the score.

St. Pauli’s game with Leipzig and Werder Bremen's against Hoffenheim were postponed because of snow and ice.

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

Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah, right, challenges for the ball with Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Freiburg players celebrate after scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Freiburg and Hamburger, in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Silas Stein/dpa via AP)

Heidenheim's Jonas Föhrenbach and Köln's Sebastian Sebulonsen, right, in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Heidenheim and FC Köln in Heidenheim, Germany, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)

Mainz's Benedict Hollerbach, center, celebrates scoring with teammates Nadiem Amiri, left, and Kaishu Sano during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Union Berlin and FSV Mainz 05 in Berlin, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)