DANCING QUEEN ON THE BALL
JELENA OSTAPENKO reckons her ballroom dancing can help her quickstep her way to the French Open title.
The Latvian livewire, who turned 20 on Thursday, will face Romania’s Simona Halep in today’s final that will see a debutant Grand Slam winner.
Ostapenko, who swings her forehand faster than Andy Murray, has seen her instant fame attract a phone call from the president of Latvia. And the world No.47 said: “I used to do ballroom dancing for seven years until I was 12. Then I stopped and now it’s kind of my hobby.
“It really helps my footwork because you need to be very coordinated and those small steps are helping.”
World No.4 Halep has the extra motivation of becoming world No.1 for the first time with a victory.
She said: “This match is really important and I will not hide the heaviness that it has.
“Of course it’s going to be a great thing if I can win. But I would like not to think too much about No.1 because it just adds more pressure.
“I always say that I play well with the pressure but now I don’t need it.
“She’s much younger than me. Of course she has nothing to lose. It’s a big thing for her.
“But I can feel that I’m in the same position. I played once before here and I was very close to winning it.
“If it’s going to happen this time it’s going to be great. If not I will have many years ahead to work and to play some finals.”
Halep lost the 2014 final here to Maria Sharapova and Eurosport analyst Chris Evert claimed this is her big chance to win her first Grand Slam against the inexperienced Ostapenko.
The American said: “I don’t think Halep is going to let go of this title.
“She’s played a couple of great matches that she has pulled through, she’s just not going to let this go.
“She’s reached the Final, it’s not against a Serena Williams or a Maria Sharapova, it’s not against a player that she has lost to.
“She will come to the match playing sharper than ever, this is her best ever chance to win a Grand Slam.
“She has the experience and the wisdom and I think she will find a way.
“This is Jelena’s first experience in the finals. I don’t think many players playing in their first finals actually win a Grand Slam – I know I didn’t win my first final.”