Ostapenko rethinks her ideas on grass courts

FRENCH Open champion Jelena Ostapenko will head to Wimbledon as the sport’s newest star admitting that she once believed grass courts were suitable only for football and not tennis.

The 20-year-old Latvian stunned favourite and world number four Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to become tennis’s most unlikely Grand Slam champion.

It was her first career title as she became the lowestranked winner in Paris, taking the trophy in just her eighth major appearance.

Next up on the Grand Slam circuit is Wimbledon where Ostapenko was junior champion in 2014.

However, she admitted that when she came across a grass court for the first time, it was hardly love at first sight.

“When I first played on grass I didn’t like it, I really didn’t understand it,” she said following her shock Paris win as she recalled playing on grass at Roehampton in England as a 15-year-old.

“I didn’t see how people could play tennis on it. I thought grass is for soccer.

“But then I learnt how to play on it and now I really like it.”

Ostapenko said she was more than comfortable with dealing with her sudden fame which will be under a harsh spotlight when Wimbledon starts in four weeks’ time.

Her home town of Riga got in the mood on Saturday when thousands of her compatriots watched her victory on a giant TV screen.

“It’s not scary to have the attention, it’s always nice to have fans,” said Ostapenko, suddenly $2.3-million (about R29.8-million) better off and with a new world ranking of 12 to her name from her current 47.

In Saturday’s final she fired 54 winners and 54 unforced errors. She ended Roland Garros with 299 winners – more than any woman or man in the tournament.

“If I am having a really good day and I’m hitting really well, I think anything is possible,” she said. — AFP