CENTRE OF ATTENTION
Jelena Ostapenko is confident she can take the attentioninherstrideasshetargets more grand slam success at Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old produced one of the most remarkable tennis stories in recent years by becoming the first unseeded player in the Open era to win the French Open title. Having arrived in Paris as the little-known world No 47 from Latvia, Ostapenko leaves as the world No 12 and with her career earnings almost tripled.
The final against Simona Halep on Saturday was shown on a big screen in the centre of Riga and Ostapenko can expect plenty of fuss when she makes a brief trip back today.
“I think when I go back home there will be a lot of attention and this is really nice because I made history for my country,” she said.
“Now I probably will have more pressure but I’m going to try to deal with that. I think it’s going to be a little bit difficult but I chose to be a tennis player, that’s my career, so I should be fine with that.”
Next up for Ostapenko is the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, and it is a sign of what an outsider she was that she is not yet in the field.
With the rankings cut-off several weeks ago, Ostapenko is still one out, although a wild card will surely be made available for her.
Ostapenko has more pedigree on grass than clay having won the Wimbledon junior title three years ago and rates the surface as her favourite.
It was not always like that. Recalling her first experience on grass aged 15, Ostapenko
“Now I will have more pressure, but I’m going to try to deal with that. I chose to be a tennis player, that’s my career”
JELENA OSTAPENKO reached a peak during a match against Johanna Konta at the Miami Open. Since then she has won 20 matches and lost three, and Cahill has no doubt she will have more chances to win slams.
“She has a lot to be proud of,” said the Australian. “I knew she had it inside of her, it’s just trying to get her to dig down deep.
“Jelena won this match, Simona did not lose it. Simona can hold her head up high.
“This will be tough for sure but I think she’ll regroup and she’ll be a better player for it. I have full faith that one of these days she’s going to hold one of these trophies.”