Ostapenko eyes better show in ‘other’ Slams
dubai — It’s difficult to stay out of the limelight if you are the only Grand Slam champion your country has ever produced.
Jelena Ostapenko changed the tennis landscape on that unforgettable Paris evening last year, becoming the first player from Latvia to lift a Grand Slam trophy and the first unseeded female French Open champion since 1933. And she was only 20! Obviously the expectations became bigger and bigger as she entered Grand Slam tournaments after that famous triumph.
But it’s hasn’t been a smooth sailing for the talented shot-maker.
A quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon was good enough but third round exits at the US Open and the Australian Open this year raised doubts about her ability to replicate her triumphant run in Paris.
“I made the third round in Melbourne this year. It was a tough match. Of course, losing is not great, but I did my best,” Ostapenko told reporters on Tuesday.
“Hopefully this year I can play well better in the other three Grand Slams. I will prepare very well for the French Open because I have to defend the title.
“Of course, it was great to win the French Open and hopefully I can again play very similar like last year. It’s going to be hard of course. But,
I will prepare very well for the French Open because I have to defend the title Jelena Ostapenko
I am in the top 10 now which means I have been playing pretty well.”
But she admitted that she would have to raise her game in order to become a top contender in the Slams.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been easy this season, especially finishing last year as a top 10. So it’s a little bit harder because most of the matches I’m, like, a favourite in the matches,” she said.
“I had a lot of good matches. I mean last week, I won the doubles title in Doha, I’m really happy about it. But in singles I would prefer to play better.
“I am feeling better now, though, having come from Fed Cup, all those emotions. We qualified for World Group, so that was great. I had a couple of more days to prepare for the Dubai tournament. I feel good now.”
The Latvian faces veteran Russian Elena Vesnina in her opening game in Dubai on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a tough match. She is a very good player, I have played her in Madrid couple of years ago, but tomorrow will be a new game and I will try to give my best and win the match,” the world number six added.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com