Youth movement: Teen makes semis

Ostapenko, 19, gets past former No. 1, will face Bacsinszky

PARIS — Suddenly a Grand Slam semifinalist for the first time, Jelena Ostapenko sounded a lot like the carefree teenager she’ll be for only a bit longer.

Ostapenko, an unseeded 19-year-old from Latvia, displayed unbridled joy after using the go-for-it strokes of someone too bold to know better to beat former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at the French Open on a rainy Tuesday.

She cracked jokes at her news conference, then giggled at her own words. As Ostapenko left the room, she turned to her agent and whispered with a smile, “My answers are funny.” This is all so new to her — and she seemed as surprised as anyone to be where she is.

“Of course, when I came here, I didn’t expect I’m going to be in the semis, but I was playing better and better every match,” the 47th-ranked Ostapenko said. “So I think if I keep it up, I think anything can happen.”

Those last three words might as well be printed on posters to commemorate the 2017 French Open. With Serena Williams (pregnant), Maria Sharapova (denied a wild card after a doping suspension) and Victoria Azarenka (about to come back after having a baby) all absent, No. 1 Angelique Kerber upset in the first round, and defending champion Garbine Muguruza beaten in the fourth, this tournament became wide open.

The out-of-nowhere Ostapenko’s next opponent is 30th-seeded Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland, who eliminated 13thseeded Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-4, 6-4.

Ostapenko and Bacsinszky, also a semifinalist at Roland Garros two years ago, will meet Thursday. That’s Ostapenko’s 20th birthday and Bacsinszky’s 28th — which they each knew, because they were doubles partners at a tournament and have become pals. After their wins, they ran into each other and hugged.

“Lucky her, she’s way younger than I am,” Bacsinszky said. “But maybe lucky me, experience-wise.”